DOWNTOWN.
chapter fifty | to begin, to end.

I woke up in a small office, strapped to a chair. Where the fuck am I? I looked around quietly, but it wasn't long until I recognized the perpetrator in front of me. Minho stood right in front of me, head rolling around, a groan escaping his lips. "M-Minho?" I stammered, catching his attention. His head finally lowered, an uncanny smile playing at his lips. "Is this what you fucking meant by a cool place?"

"Yeah," He admitted, upper body leaning forward. His hand hung onto the edge of the table, and I could've sworn he thought I was a fool. "This is not much of a bad situation as you might think it is in your head, Jiayi. This was fully consensual, first of all, you're not in much of a dangerous situation, and I have no plans on killing you."

"Right, like that makes everything better. Thanks for stating the stupid obvious, bastard," His eyebrows raised, and I felt like if I made him upset, he'd betray his own words. "What's the point of keeping me here if you have no intent of murder? This is still kidnapping, Minho!"

"I've told your little boyfriend that you're with me, trust. He knows that you're in somewhat grave danger, at least, from what I said, so he'll be searching for you," Minho sighed. "I just needed some time with you. When he comes to get you, you're free. I'm done playing the bad guy–even if you've already admitted that I'm a bastard."

"You're a bastard for doing this," I spit out. That's when he came forward, roughly grabbed my face, and hoisted it closer to his, grimacing. "What? Do you want to hurt me now? Seeing me vulnerable, is that what you're going to do, you fucking bastard?"

"You–" He paused, gaze softening after being filled with terror. "You know I can't hurt you."

"Because of Donghyuck? Or–"

"Because I'm into you," That was sudden. Minho let go of me, my face dropping. "Don't worry. I have no ill intention of changing your mind or forcing you to get closer to me. I just felt like telling you."

"I'll be damned, because all this time, I knew you like the back of my hand, Minho. I knew you treated me this way because I was a mere reflection of Jeno," I replied. "And, I know that you kept Wooyoung's secret despite knowing that if we had found out sooner, all of this could've ceased to exist. You could've ended this, Minho."

"Yeah, I could've, but where's the fun in that?" His head spun to face me, sitting back on that very table. "And yeah, I treated you a certain way because I thought that treating you well, it would appease our relationship with the Neos. After a certain amount of time realizing that wouldn't work, I fell for you, Jiayi, and suppressed it. I didn't think it was ever going to miraculously become something, considering from the very beginning, you and Haechan were destined for each other."

Then, he added, "But, I think Donghyuck should've left you to rot."

I scoffed, mouth open in disbelief. "What the fuck gives you that thought?"

"He's done so much for you in only a few months of knowing you, you're just unaware because he purposely makes it so you don't notice. Take that car you own for example," Minho reasoned. "No person in their right mind would get you a car out of love. He's mental for that. But, he did it for love, just like most people in this vicinity would. We do things for love, even if we know that all will fail in the end."

I had a feeling he was also implying Yeosang's mistake. I sat silent, glaring, watching as he stared back. Shaking his head, he scoffed, lowering his eyes to his feet.

"You know, Jiayi," Minho bit his cheek, a discontent smile on his lips. "You could date Donghyuck in a hundred different lifetimes, each granting you a different version of him, and no matter what, you would be unchanging–undeserving. You still wouldn't deserve him in any of those lifetimes."

I inhaled sharply, watching as Minho shook his head again. "The Neos would've won if it weren't for you. Donghyuck sacrificed his potential to see you succeed."

"You act as if I don't know that, fucker."

"Do you know it, Jiayi? Because you sure don't act like it," Minho clicked his tongue. "But maybe that's the beauty of it. Because you both are so vastly different, that somehow, it works–even if it's the most flawed it could ever be."

"You can't say anything, Minho. All your relationships–platonic or romantic–end up with you always being the bad guy," He tilted his head, waiting for me to explain. "You and Wooyoung, you and me, you and Donghyuck, you and Jeno, anyone, Minho–you always look like the bad guy."

"Again, I am one," Minho laughed. "I told you that already. You still don't get it?"

"No," I sighed. "That's the issue I have with you. How can you be a bad guy when you, just like Wooyoung, have never had any ill intention? I know you, Minho. You intend to make others shine, but haven't you thought about the fact that you're practically losing yourself in the process?"

His smile fell. Maybe he really never considered it. "I see it now," I nodded slowly, continuing my words. "It's not that I wouldn't have feelings for you, Minho. It's that we wouldn't work out."

"Hm?" Minho hummed, eyes somewhat wide. Repeating what I said like a mockery, he added, "What gives you that thought?"

"You and I are far too similar, I think I'd get sick of you," I muttered, eyes flickering to my tied-up hands. I wasn't going to put up a fight. "All of our lives, we aimed to help others–a people pleaser. All we cared about was what everyone thought, having to prove ourselves consistently, and believing we weren't ever enough. Minho, don't you get sick of that? I sure am."

"I don't care that much."

"Oh, you do. Deep down, you do," I snapped back. "You won't fight back. You go with it, even as a leader, because just imagining what they'd do if you had a strong disagreement would send you to your own demise. I mean, look at Wooyoung's death as well as his history. You kept that for a long time because you feared that–"

"Shut up," Minho interrupted. "Every time you bring up Wooyoung, I almost want to be violent with you, Jiayi. Don't make me do that."

"Sorry, sorry, I forgot that the kidnapped should respect the kidnapper," That made him chuckle. "Fine, I won't bully you any further, but you know my point. You've got to let it go, Minho."

He hesitated, pursing his lips. "But will that fix everything, Jiayi?" He asked me, wincing. "Will that bring back the dead? Will it end everything once and for all?"

"Nobody can revive the dead–unless you're some kind of deity," I said. "But it will end the rivalry, Minho. You've got to let go of the rivalry, of what everyone wants you to do–and think about what you want."

Minho sighed, crossing his arms. "You know, my initial plan was to keep you here so that you wouldn't drive for this last race," He admitted, biting his cheek once more. "But I'd be fooling myself. You'd still find a way... and I'd still cave."

Ouch. That kind of hurt.

His eyes met mine, searching each pupil for an answer. He got up, coming closer, and I almost feared that he'd hurt me. However, instead, he pulled off the tie, freeing me. As I searched his face, Minho wore a mysterious expression, rather, one that I couldn't recognize, and the corners of his lips turned down. He was crossed, thinking about something. Then, he broke his silence with a chuckle, rubbing his head. "God, I really meant it that day I told you that being friends with you was detrimental to our success, Jiayi. I'm feeling hurt."

"As corny as it sounds, follow your heart, Minho," I grinned. "Do what you think is right."

"Seungmin told me this one time," He paused. "As it begins, it ends."

I almost cracked a laugh. That sounded stupid. "What does that mean?"

"You think it's funny, huh?" He smiled. "I did too at first. Seungmin can say some pretty funny things. But, he explained to me that it means as something begins, there is something that ends. Well, Jiayi, as our new lives begin, this feud will end. Sure, I lingered because maybe things would change, but god, if I kept waiting around for change, then I'd be the only one changing. So, to begin something new, and to end it, Jiayi, is what I'll do."

"Don't get all soft on me now," I winced, seeing his cheesiness leave its small burrow. "I'm not asking you to go easy on me next Sunday."

"Please, just because I have feelings for you?" We laughed in unison. "As if. You'll be begging for mercy now that you've changed my mindset, Jiayi. I hope you're ready to lose."

"I'll get first place," I declared, crossing my arms. "Watch me."

"You–" Knock! The person pounded on the door, screaming Minho's name.

"Open the fucking door, Lee Minho!"

"Your boyfriend's gotten brave, saying my name so loudly in this place," He turned to me for a moment, soon facing the door. "I thought he'd take longer, though–it's only been an hour."

"Like you said," Minho paused, hand on the locked handle. "I wouldn't deserve him in any lifetime."

Minho pursed his lips, silent, even as the door continued to scream for him. Finally, Minho turned the handle, the small click! attracting silence. Donghyuck then barged in, a gun straight to Minho's forehead, eyes burning with anger. I got up, running over, grabbing the base of the gun. "Don't stop me, Jiayi! I'll shoot his–"

"Donghyuck," I said calmly, Minho's hands up for surrender. "Minho didn't hurt me. We were just briefly talking."

"Then why'd he tell me to come find you?"

"Because how would I get home?" Liar. Gosh, Jiayi, you're helping the enemy. "It was just a little prank. Don't worry."

Donghyuck cautiously lowered his handgun, grabbing me by the shoulder. "If I see a single scratch on her, Minho," He paused, sparing me a glance. "I'll kill you on Sunday."

"Can't wait for it," Minho teased, hands in his pockets. "See you on Sunday at Taeyong's little circuit, Donghyuck."

That should've pissed him off, but I guess after calling Minho by his real name, they called it even. They both didn't spare any extra conversation, Minho retracting to the office desk as Donghyuck pulled me along and out of the building.

"So, to begin something new, and to end it, Jiayi, is what I'll do."

I hope you don't go against your words, Minho.

I really, really... hope you don't.