hyunjin was uneasy the moment he stepped into this particular cafe in town that weekend. of course, he'd been feeling uneasy ever since seungmin'd told him off on monday, threatening him not to call him. the younger also never answered any of hyunjin's texts either, before proceeding not to attend school for the rest of the week.

hyunjin had been, and he still was, very worried for the shorter, but he didn't want to bother him or become a nuisance. every text he'd sent seungmin had been read by the latter, which was a sign that the brown haired male was at least okay.

hyunjin's mind whirred with several thoughts as he told the barista his order and name, thinking back to the moment he'd confronted seungmin about his bloodied wrist. that whole moment had been strange, so seungmin's alarmed reaction was justified. hyunjin didn't even know why he'd chosen to ask that specific question.

once he'd gotten his order, he decided to choose a seat by the windows, fondling his phone in his hands and contemplating if he should risk it and text seungmin again. the younger's silence was only adding fuel to the embers of his anxiety.

hyunjin would wish he'd opted for quickly leaving the cafe instead though.

as his thumb lingered over seungmin's contact info, the hairs on his back stood on end at the distinct and distrubing feeling of being watched.

he felt heated holes burning into his face, examining him and studying his every move.

hyunjin bit his lip, unable to ease the harsh thumping of his heart.

"um, can i sit here?"

at the voice hyunjin almost fell out of his seat, a jolt of alarm sinking down his spine. he looked up with a jerk, his eyes taking in the male across from him.

the guy in front of him seemed normal enough, donned in a grey hoodie that hugged his muscular frame. he looked young, probably just a little bit older than hyunjin, and in his hand was an americano. when his and hyunjin's gazes met, he released a friendly smile.

"uh," hyunjin cleared his throat, a bit taken aback at the unknown male's presence. "s-sure, i guess..."

with that, the guy took the seat across from him, slowly taking a sip out of his coffee.

the atmosphere was awkward, since they barely knew each other, and hyunjin just couldn't get rid of his nerves. it wasn't because the guy made him terrified or anything, he just felt a bit... cautious. maybe that was it.

min🌸

hyunjin: min, what are you doing right now?

hyunjin texted seungmin to see if he would reply, and bit back the disappointment he felt when the younger didn't reply. once again.

bitterness, along with worry and sorrow swirled inside his bloodstream, and the more seconds that passed, the more frustrated he became. the feeling only grew when spotted the cafe's doors getting all condensed with the surprising amount of heavy rainfall that suddenly appeared.

his lips pursed. he'd totally forgotten to bring his umbrella today.

once he felt like he was being watched again, he glanced at the guy, who only smiled at him.

"something wrong?" he asked, concern dripping off his voice.

hyunjin shrugged, chuckling a bit. "just forgot to bring an umbrella is all."

the guy looked at the falling rain that formed rapid puddles on the asphalt roads.

"you know..." he bit his lip, "i could give you a ride home."

hyunjin fiddled nervously with his coffee's straw. "that'll be nice, but...no thank you. i should probably just wait for the rain to stop and take the bus home."

but the rain didn't look like it was going to stop anytime soon.

"ah, that's too bad then," the guy remarked, a slight frown set on his chiseled features. he was attractive, and would've totally been hyunjin's type if someone else hadn't already taken that spot. "it'll really be a shame if you have to walk to the bus stop under all that rain. plus, the cafe's gonna close soon."

i know that, hyunjin wanted to remark, but he bit his tongue just in time.

the orange sunset had already began to glimmer over the horizon, parting open the grey clouds and setting fire to the crying skies. the sight only reminded hyunjin of his predicament.

he watched as the unnamed guy finished up his coffee, quickly texting seungmin about his whereabouts just in case.

min🌸

hyunjin: so i met this guy at a cafe and he offered me a ride home since its currenly raining cats and dogs outside

hyunjin: he seems nice enough, but i'm still a little skeptical

hyunjin: i should accept the ride, right?

hyunjin: i'll ask him to stop at that pizza place so he won't know exactly where i live

"what's your name?" the guy suddenly asked, interrupting hyunjin.

"...hyunjin. you?"

the male smiled. "changbin." he nodded at the cafe's entrance. "changed your mind about the ride?"

hyunjin's grip on the phone tightened. "yeah, i guess."

min🌸

hyunjin: fuck, i'm so nervous

hyunjin: look, i already got into his car so you can't really warn me trusting strangers anymore

hyunjin: seungmin, please answer me

hyunjin: anyway, he's driving now

hyunjin: i'm nervous, but the radio's playing some nice songs so i'm trying to calm down

hyunjin: and oh, the guy said his name is changbin, by the way

hyunjin: i dont know how that's important, but whatever

hyunjin: i'm also texting you underneath my bag, so if the spelling is a bit off then i apologize

hyunjin: i hope you're feeling better though

hyunjin observed his surroundings, casually answering changbin's harmless questions about himself while he drove down the road. by now, the rain has started to subside a bit, but it still wasn't enough to get rid of the chills he'd been experiencing as of now.

min🌸

hyunjin: should i come visit your place after changbin drops me off?

hyunjin: i want to check up on you

hyunjin: sorry if i'm being annoying though

he shoved his phone into his bag the second something vibrated inside the car's cup holder. as he looked at it, he realized it came from a phone, which was normal.

but what wasn't normal was the picture put as the phone's lockscreen, as it displayed a face hyunjin thought he'd never see again.

felix.

hyunjin's heart almost stopped as changbin promptly shut off the phone before swerving the car into a direction completely opposite the one hyunjin'd instructed him.

"w-what are you doing?" hyunjin stammered, unable to even breathe properly.

changbin's eyebrows rose, his nonchalant expression completely contrasting with hyunjin's mortified one.

"what? i'm only taking a shortcut."

"that's not a shortcut," hyunjin replied, trying his absolute hardest not to freak out. "please, turn back. turn back now!"

"what if i don't want to?" changbin's low words sent chills down hyunjin's spine.

by now, the car was moving faster than ever before, heading further and further away from civilisation.

sheer panic pooled at hyunjin's insides. he knew he was now in danger.

before he could do anything else, he quickly texted seungmin, hoping that his friend would act fast and somehow save him.

min🌸

hyunjin: changbin knows felix

hyunjin: help!!

hyunjin: i dont know where we're heading but i know theres a lot of trees

hyunjin: and its a bit of a distance from where i live

hyunjin: fuck

hyunjin: please call the police or anyone i dont know how much longer i'll last please seungmin

hyunjin: i dont want to die
seen

hyunjin's hand grabbed onto the car's door handle, trying to slam it open, but it was locked.

"don't you dare try to escape." changbin's voice was firm and threatening, not at all like the pleasant way he'd spoken to hyunjin at that cafe. the student was terrified. "if you don't want to die."

hyunjin almost yelped when the car made a sharp turn down a dirtpath. he couldn't believe this was happening. "w-where are we going?"

changbin smirked, the setting sun and tall trees casting shadows over his face. "you'll see."