Min-jun's chest rose and fell in rapid bursts as he reached the top of the staircase. Each breath came sharp and shallow, his lungs burning as if he'd run a marathon. He gripped the railing briefly before stumbling toward the wall, leaning against it for support. The pounding of his heart echoed in his ears, louder than the distant hum of voices down the corridor.
His legs trembled beneath him, a weakness spreading upward through his limbs until he sank a few inches against the wall, struggling to stay upright. Closing his eyes, he tilted his head back, the cool touch of the wall a slight relief against his fevered skin. He stood there quietly, trying not to panic.
Throughout the day, Min-jun had been avoiding Seung-joon at every turn. The moment he spotted him from a distance, he'd change direction without a second thought—ducking down hallways, slipping into classrooms, even bolting outright when Seung-joon had appeared to shield him from Won Dong-hyun.
