When he agreed to assist Chan, the last thing Jisung's afraid self expected (or wanted) was for Chan to return inside the café and walk back out with none other than Lee Minho.

As Minho's gaze caught his with a suggestive lift of a single brow, Jisung shrunk back, visibly nervous, causing Chan to sigh.

"Look," Chan spoke, making Jisung flinch. "We're taking him so that if the Jimmy guy has done something, Minho will kill him."

Neither of them noticed the absolute confusion warping Minho's features as they rushed to the car.

Once he got in, Jisung gulped. He chanted in his head prayers that desperately wished Minho would sit in the front seat. I mean, why wouldn't he?

But instead, the back door opened and Jisung tensed. Minho jumped in and glanced at him, his lips instantly curling into a sadistic smirk.
"Hey baby boy." greeted the older as he placed a hand on Jisung's thigh, too close to his crotch. This was going to be a one hell of a ride.

Although the drive should've been just a few minutes, the tense silence made Chan feel like he was driving in one place while slowly drowning, with anxious thoughts racing through his mind. Little beads of sweat dripped down his neck as he clenched his teeth, barely able to focus on the road. But soon enough, he pulled over at Jeongin's place.

Chan turned to check on the two boys in his back seat, his eyes immediately popping out. "Minho- the fuck man let the boy breathe!" He yelled, making Minho instantly free Jisung from an overly heated make out session.

Shaking his head in disappointment, Chan hurriedly got out the car and marched to the porch without waiting for the two behind him. Rather than simply knocking, he banged his fist against the door and waited for a while for a response, before repeating the action, this time harsher.

Anxious minutes later, the door creaked open and someone peeped out. It was the tall friend Chan remembered seeing Jeongin with. Hyunjin.

Before he could say or do something, Chan used his strength to force the door open, shoving the taller boy backwards with an enraged scowl. The inside of the house was unlit, the dim streetlights being the only source of illumination through the glass windows.

"What the hell-"

Chan yanked Hyunjin forward by grabbing a fistful of his collar, cutting him off sharply. "Where's Jeongin?" He spat coldly, tensing his jaw.

A sick smirk curled up Hyunjin's lips, soon releasing into a chuckle. "He's dead. I don't know where he is."

Just as the words left his lips, Chan smashed his fist against the taller's jaw, his head snapping upwards due to the impact as he stumbled back and growled.

"Search the house, I'll beat the fucker." said Minho, now standing at the doorway as he cracked his knuckles.

Wasting no time, Chan marched farther into the unfamiliar house. He scurried up the stairs and burst into a bedroom, flipping the light on as he scanned the messy area. Wiping the sweat off his forehead, Chan checked the en suite bathroom, growling when he found no sign of the young boy.

Making sure the first floor was clear, he rushed back down but froze midway upon seeing Minho's figure in the dark wait for him by the end of the stairs. The entire house was eerily silent, with only Chan's fuming breath breaking through.

"The basement. Go check it."

Chan walked closer, confusion evident in his tone as he spoke, "How the fuck do you know? Where's that dude?"

Minho shrugged. "In the trunk of your car. Beat him till he said it."

Aimlessly looking around, Chan walked into another unlit open space, which he assumed must've been the kitchen. His guess turned out to be exactly right once the light was flipped on. He really had to thank Minho later.

Seeing the only door at the corner of the kitchen, overshadowed by the massive cabinets and the double-doored fridge, Chan rushed to it. He turned the knob multiple times, failing to open the locked door.

Cursing, he moved back before lunging forward and banged his arm against the door, repeating the action until the door was forced open. Chan stood still, allowing his eyes to focus on the flight of staircase that diffused into darkness.

"You go ahead." Minho spoke, holding up his phone flashlight from behind Chan to light the basement up.

Without replying, Chan trudged down the stairs and scanned the dirty area, eyes landing on the lifeless body sprawled on the unclean floor. And mayhaps for Chan, in that moment, everything shattered. He immediately bolted forward and dropped to his knees, taking a moment to let the sight sink in.

Seething with a mixture of panic and anger while he struggled to catch his breath, Chan's hands hovered over Jeongin's beaten body, unsure of where to place them. In the poor lighting, he could still make out dark bruises that disappeared underneath the only garment worn by the boy, a massive shirt. Jeongin was destroyed. Is he dead?

Minho knelt nearby, pressing his fingers under the unconscious boy's jaw.

"He's alive and still warm, let's get him out of here." Minho's words cut through the foggy thoughts that suffocated Chan, snapping him back to his senses.

He finally let his hands come into contact with the boy, scooping Jeongin into his arms carefully, while still so afraid he would break the boy. But he was already broken, wasn't he? 

.

The car ride back to Chan's apartment was suffocating. Although both Chan and Minho knew they had to contact the police, they decided to stay on the low. Because doing so would mean Minho goes to jail for the knocked out body in the car's trunk.

Chan had allowed his friend to take the steering wheel, with a terrified Jisung in the front seat, who did nothing to hide his sobs. Chan sat silently in the back, with Jeongin's unconscious body in his arms. Minho had lent his trench coat to wrap around Jeongin's frail body, since the boy was dressed in nothing but a shirt.

Chan let his eyes trail over Jeongin's bruised face resting on his lap, where dried up blood was smudged here and there, with tear trails visible. The sight pained him. Chan's mind was unclear, with a massive lump in his throat that wouldn't go away no matter how hard he swallow. His heart ached, so incredibly badly. Because by this point, he knew how he felt towards the younger, and the guilt of failing to simply protect Jeongin was crushing him down. 

Blurring Chan's vision, cold drops of tears scattered onto Jeongin's cheeks. He blinked multiple times, taken aback. With a soft, defeated chuckle, Chan shut his eyes and rolled his head back, sucking in a deep breath. In that tense moment, he just wished everything would be okay.

By the time they reached Chan's apartment, soft snores could be heard from the front seat by Minho's side. When he stopped the car, Minho turned back and signalled for Chan to exit. Without protesting, Chan let his friend open the door and help him out with Jeongin. His mind was a frenzy, and he moved like he was possessed & had no control over his mind or body. Before he could walk into the apartment complex with Jeongin in his arms, Minho called out to him with a whistle, instantly grabbing his attention.

Minho sighed, shaking his head with slight disappointment at the sight of Chan's face drained of colour, and panic written all over. 

"Snap the fuck out of it and take care of the boy. You're supposed to be strong, remember? He's alive. You haven't lost your love." Minho said, his voice determined. "I'll be borrowing the car. Call me if you need anything."

a;n haven't been feeling great recently but i'm glad i have you guys.