The next day arrived with a strange mix of sunshine and foreboding. Minho woke up early, a nervous energy coursing through him. He told himself it was excitement for his next meeting with Joohyuk, but a persistent unease lingered.
He met Joohyuk for lunch in the university cafeteria, a deliberate choice to normalize their relationship in a public setting. Joohyuk was animated, recounting a photography project he was working on, his passion infectious. Minho found himself laughing easily, the earlier anxiety momentarily forgotten.
As they ate, a group of students walked past, their eyes lingering on Minho and Joohyuk with a mixture of curiosity and disapproval. Minho felt a familiar flush creep up his neck. He knew what they were thinking, what they whispered when they thought no one was listening.
Joohyuk, seemingly oblivious, continued talking, but Minho's lighthearted mood had vanished. He picked at his food, his appetite gone.
"Hey, you okay?" Joohyuk asked, noticing Minho's change in demeanor. His brow furrowed with concern. "You seem…distracted."
Minho forced a smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just thinking about that exam next week." He hated lying to Joohyuk, but he wasn't ready to confront the reality of their situation.
Joohyuk didn't look convinced, but he let it go. "Right. Well, after lunch, I thought we could go check out that new exhibit at the gallery. You mentioned you were interested in modern art."
Minho nodded, grateful for the distraction. The gallery was a welcome change from the judging eyes of the cafeteria. They spent the afternoon wandering through the exhibits, discussing the artists' intentions and their own interpretations. Joohyuk's knowledge of art was impressive, and Minho found himself captivated by his insights.
As they left the gallery, the sky had turned a bruised purple, heavy with the threat of rain. Joohyuk pulled Minho closer, sheltering him under his umbrella.
"Thanks," Minho mumbled, his heart skipping a beat.
"Anytime," Joohyuk replied, his smile warm.
They walked in comfortable silence for a few blocks before a voice broke through the quiet.
"Well, well, well. Look what we have here."
Minho froze. He knew that voice. It belonged to Jaehyun, a notorious bully known for his homophobic remarks. Jaehyun was flanked by two of his equally unpleasant friends.
"Having a little date, Minho?" Jaehyun sneered, his eyes raking over them with disdain. "Didn't know you swung that way."
Minho felt his face burn with humiliation. He wanted to disappear, to melt into the pavement and be swallowed whole. He glanced at Joohyuk, his expression unreadable in the fading light.
"Is there a problem?" Joohyuk asked, his voice calm but firm. He stood taller, his grip on the umbrella unwavering.
Jaehyun laughed, a harsh, grating sound. "No problem at all. Just didn't realize our little Minho had such…exotic tastes." He winked at his friends, who snickered.
Minho flinched. He wanted to say something, to defend himself and Joohyuk, but the words caught in his throat.
Joohyuk stepped in front of Minho, shielding him from Jaehyun's hateful gaze. "Leave him alone," he said, his voice dangerously low.
"Or what?" Jaehyun challenged, taking a step closer. "You gonna cry about it? Or maybe...give me a kiss too?"
The air crackled with tension. Minho's stomach churned with fear. This was exactly what he had been dreading.
Suddenly, the dark blue ink that Minho had unconsciously felt earlier began to solidify in the air above them. At first, it was like a swirling cloud, then coalesced into the shape of a monstrous raven, its eyes gleaming with malevolent intelligence. It cawed, a sound that echoed unnaturally loud, and fixed its gaze on Jaehyun.
Jaehyun stumbled back, his bravado faltering. "What the…?"
The raven swooped down, its talons extended. Jaehyun screamed, his friends scrambling to get out of the way.
Joohyuk grabbed Minho's hand and pulled him away, their hearts pounding in unison. They didn't stop running until they were safely inside Minho's apartment, the door locked and bolted behind them.
The rain began to fall, a torrential downpour that mirrored the chaos in Minho's mind. He was safe, for now, but he knew that this was just the beginning. The raven, the fear, the judging eyes…it was all a part of a darkness that he couldn't escape, a darkness that now threatened to engulf Joohyuk as well. He looked at Joohyuk, his face pale and etched with concern. The fear in his eyes was a mirror to Minho's own. The perfect start had been shattered, replaced by a chilling premonition of what was to come.