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The moon hung low over the Glade as the typical nighttime gathering occurred due to the arrival of the new Greenie. Gladers were scattered around, enjoying the rare moment of relaxation and taking a pause for the problems they're facing. Minho went to the Deadheads because he wanted to be alone.

The former Keeper sat against a tree, his usually piercing eyes dulled by the drinks that Gally had served him earlier. He'd lost track of how many drinks he'd had—maybe it's alcohol he's drinking since it has a bitter taste at the end of his tongue—his mind swirling with fury, jealousy, and confusion. Jealousy of what? Maybe he said it incorrectly.

He didn’t usually drink like this—he was always the responsible one, keeping his mind sharp. But tonight was different. Tonight, he couldn’t shake the sight of Zelia with Gally when he saw them together every day, the two of them sharing a moment that had torn at him more than he wanted to admit.

It was stupid, really. Gally wasn’t a threat; he knows that. He didn't even know if he had the right to feel this way. He just can't help himself sometimes. Minho knew Zelia wasn’t interested in him—he guessed—but that didn’t stop the burning sensation in his chest every time he saw them together. He wanted to let it go, but the jealousy gnawed at him, and the drinks only made it worse. Really worse, the man just hoped that no one saw him that he went here.

He just closed his eyes, just in case he lost all his feelings for her these past few weeks. Or months, who knows. He just wished that Ben or anyone else didn't follow him, but it seems that fate has played tricks on him right now.

"Minho?" Great, whoever else I was avoiding, she's the one who actually came here.

Minho took a deep breath and slowly opened his eyes to look at Zelia. At first, he had a hard time focussing because there wasn't much light to be seen in the Deadheads. But he adjusted to the darkness, and he could see her face.

"What are you doing out here by yourself?" She asked again, noticing that the man did not speak. Her voice is full of confusion, but at the same time, he can feel that somehow she cares for him.

His lips curled into a lopsided smile, though there was a bitterness behind it. “Just thinking,” he muttered.

"Is there something wrong?" Zelia asked while she frowned.

"No, nothing is wrong. Just enjoying myself because of the Greenie." Zelia knew that the last thing he said was sarcastic, so she looked at Minho carefully.

"Then why are you here by yourself if you're just wanting to have fun because of Chuck?" she asked. "Wait, how many did you drink that Gally served?" The young man laughed softly. Of course, she will mention that name.

"Don't know. I didn't count since this only happened once for awhile." Zelia took a deep breath; she knew there was something wrong with the man's actions. She sat next to him; she didn't care if Minho pushed her away; she just knew what he was doing here.

"Minho, what's going on? You're not going to drink just for nothing."

Minho looked at the girl next to him, who never took her eyes off of the young man. The man wanted to keep his mouth shut, but he knew he couldn't. Aside from the fact that he had been drinking, he knew he couldn't lie to Zelia. He wanted to not think that Zelia and Gally were together, but he couldn't. Maybe what he feels right now can be called jealousy.

"Why did you spend so much time with him?" It was obvious in his voice that there was another meaning that Zelia couldn't figure out what it was.

"With who? Gally?" The young woman asked.

"Yeah, Gally," Minho said with a mix of bitterness in his voice. "Every time I see you, you're with him. Laughing. Talking. Too obvious. That's why the Gladers are talking about the both of you as if there's something going on between the two of you. What, you like him or something?"

Zelia stared at him, obviously confused by what he's saying. "Minho, Gally, and I are just friends. Why would you think something like that?" She wanted to laugh because of what he said.

I didn't expect him to also think there was something going on between the two of us. I get it if they saw us that we talk every day, but that has no other meaning.

"Of course, friends." He scoffed. "Sure, I believe that you two are friends."

Zelia narrowed her eyes, realising where this was coming from. She didn't want to ask this, but it was obvious in the man's voice that something was wrong.

“Are you seriously jealous? Of Gally?” Minho looked away, and he laughed softly.

"Me? Why would I? I don't have any reason to be jealous of. I mean, look at me, I'm useless right now. Can't go on a Maze to find an exit. I still have 3 days left before I can go back as a Runner. I'm not a Keeper anymore. A guy who became a hero since I came back and then in just a puff, I'm invisible. Seriously, I don't know if I really can go back at the Maze after you saw me that I can't sleep properly. Scared of the Grievers and the walls. So, in short, I'm useless, and to think of it, Gally is better than me right now."

Zelia felt a pain in her chest when she heard what Minho said. She felt every pain in the man's words. After all, he's still a human who's good at pretending in front of everyone; he needs to be strong for them. They know Minho as a tough leader, not in a fragile situation.

The girl slowly put her hand on the young man's right arm, and she gave his arm a gentle squeeze.

"Minho, you're not useless, and you've never been invisible to me. Of course, you're a person too; that's why you can't be tough all the time. It's okay to feel scared and be afraid. You don't have to pretend that you're okay when you're in front of me." Minho looked at Zelia's hand that was still holding his arm.

"Don't say that just to make me feel better." The man looked up when he felt one of the girl's hands holding his left cheek.

"It's true what I'm saying. I just realized when I first saw you that night, you're just scared to show yourself who you really are to everyone because they saw you as a strong person. They just forget that you have other feelings too." Zelia smiled at Minho, a genuine one. "I saw you as you. Not only a former Keeper of the Runners, not a hero they called after you came back."

"I still ignored you after I left at the Slammer." She just shrugged her shoulders.

"It's okay, I didn't mind about that since I'm busy to teach them."

"I don't like seeing you with him and the way it makes me feel."

Minho felt how Zelia caressed his cheek with her thumb. He didn't expect her hand to be this soft. He was just looking at her in the eyes, wondering what she's really thinking about him right now.

"You really don't have to feel that way. We are just-"

Before she could finish what she was going to say, Minho suddenly leaned forward, his lips crashing against hers in a drunken, impulsive kiss.

For a moment, Zelia was too stunned to react. Her eyes widen in surprise as his lips press against hers. It wasn’t a gentle kiss, but one fuelled by frustration, jealousy, and raw emotion—emotions he had kept bottled up for too long. She doesn't know what to do.

Minho pulled back after a second, but for him it feels like a minute, his eyes wide with realization, his heart pounding. He hadn’t meant to do that. He hadn’t even thought—he just acted.

Zelia stared at him, her mind racing. Unconsciously, her fingers brushed her lips, still feeling the warmth of the kiss. “Minho… you-”

“I’m sorry,” he blurted out, trying his best to find proper words for what he had just done. “I-shit, Zelia, I didn’t mean to-”

Zelia blinked, her heart still racing from the shock of the kiss. She didn’t know what to say; the tension between them was thick and overwhelming. Mixed emotions.

Minho stood up, nearly tripping over his own feet in his drunken state. “I shouldn’t have...I shouldn’t have done that,” he muttered, running a hand through his hair, frustrated with himself. “I just...I need to clear my head.”

Without waiting for her to respond, he left Zelia inside the Deadheads and went back inside the Glade. The girl still hasn't quite sunk in on what happened.

Zelia sat in stunned silence, her heart torn between confusion, frustration, and something else she couldn’t quite name. That kiss—it had been impulsive, messy, but there had been something in it. Something real.

She didn’t know what it meant. Not yet. But one thing was clear: Minho’s feelings ran deeper than either of them had realized, and the kiss had opened a door neither of them could easily close.

What the heck happened? What are these feelings?

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Hello to the 158 readers! There's still 10 chapters before the first part of their story is done. I hope you are still looking forward to what will happen in their lives.

Also, I really appreciate it if you click the star button. But I would be glad if you comment since I'm really happy reading all your thoughts ^^