yikes

you chose:
b) follow them

* * *

Jongho, with his cap still covering the upper half of his face, made sure Cherry and San had walked off a considerable distance ahead before he could proceed to tail after them.

He really couldn't believe he was doing this, but he wanted to find out things about them. Maybe if they actually turned out to be bad people, then he could have a chance to get Wooyoung out of that apartment before anything terrible happened to him.

That's ridiculous, part of his mind mumbled. There's no way they're doing anything horrendous, you just don't like them. You can't control what Wooyoung does with his life.

But, Jongho wanted to. Not to control Wooyoung, that is, but to take him out of harm's way. If he managed to find something of value tonight, then he'd be able to convince his friend that staying with those shady roommates of his was a very bad idea.

The white moon glowed from the night sky in its full glory, and it was super cold in the parking lot beside the store.

It was even more freezing in Jongho's car, and his teeth slightly chattered at the sensation. But he ignored the way he continuously shivered and dropped his things inside the backseat, keeping his gaze on Cherry and San the entire time.

They stood by a black ford, big smiles on both their faces as they chatted about things Jongho couldn't hear. He suddenly wished he wasn't so far away, and by now, his curiosity about them had grown too large to resist.

San entered through the driver's seat with Cherry entering the other, and then the man was reversing out into the road. They looked unfazed and casual, like they weren't even aware that they were being watched. Perfect.

Jongho waited a few seconds, before leaving the parking lot as well. He'd never followed after anyone before -- never had a reason to anyway -- so he tried to remember the many action movies he'd seen as a kid where the bad guys would chase after the protagonist. Only, those two guys he was tailing after were the supposed 'bad guys', and he was only doing this because he wanted to keep Wooyoung safe.

"It's not like he'd asked you to do this for him anyway..." Jongho mumbled to himself, ensuring he wasn't too close to the ford to be deemed suspicious. Luckily, a few other cars were also present on that road. They made Jongho feel a lot more protected. "So why are you doing it?"

The answer came to him before he'd even finished asking himself that question. He did this because he cared about Wooyoung. Cared enough about him to follow those dodgy strangers around at night because he wanted to gather evidence that'd prove his suspicions about them. And he certainly cared about Wooyoung enough to risk going against his uni's curfew, as he only had an hour left before had to return.

Jongho continued to drive, continued to keep his distance so San and the other guy wouldn't suspect him of tailing after them, until he began to take notice of his surroundings. Or lack, thereof.

The roads had gotten darker, simmering in shadows and the unknown, and the buildings he'd grown so used to seeing had totally disappeared. Even the cars were fewer.

An abundance of large trees with dying leaves were gathered together like knives up ahead. Worry and unease crawled up Jongho's body as he realized he wasn't familiar with this part of town at all.

San and Cherry turned a corner. Jongho gradually followed them.

Please, turn back now, his mind warned, but Jongho didn't want to listen. It wasn't like he was heading somewhere totally off the grid. The roads were still wide, and a number of buildings still appeared although they were few and far in between. They helped calm him down even if they were new to him.

Where are they even going? Jongho couldn't help but question.

The ford's windows were tinted, so they didn't even allow him to see what those guys were doing. It's okay, he managed to assure himself, soon enough, they'll stop somewhere and I'll finally know what they're up to.

His thoughts convinced him enough to keep moving, but he couldn't stay encouraged for long.

Jongho chewed his lip, impatience gnawing under his skin. He was starting to get annoyed, and now he wished he'd just gone back to his dorm instead. If he'd done so, he'd be warm, asleep, and he currently wouldn't be biting his lip off in irritation.

He shook his head, snapping it back into focus. He couldn't afford to be lost in thought in the middle of an area he unfamiliar with. That would only spell trouble.

An arm slung out of the backseat window, as well as a head of dirty blond hair flowing about in the wind. And it immediately caught Jongho's attention, because the hair colour looked unsettlingly familiar...

Dread soon followed as it dawned on him that there'd been a third person in the car all this time, and he'd never noticed.

The arm promptly flicked upwards, and all of a sudden the asphalt below Jongho's car rumbled. It took him a look at the rearview mirror to see that a black van was now rapidly approaching him.

What the hell? Jongho's feet slammed the speed pedal and swerved to the right, nerves aflame when he realized the van had copied him. And it'd gotten even closer.

Jongho was wide-eyed in fright, heart beating intensely inside his chest. He drove even faster, his grip on the steering wheel so tight his knuckles turned deathly pale.

The van's tires screeched over the road, revving loudly through the night. Its headlights were bright and daunting, making Jongho feel like a caged animal.

Jongho made a sharp turn again, but before he could register what was happening, a force so great smashed against his car, shattering the windows into pieces. Pain electrified his temple as soon as his head collided with the steering wheel.

The car was spinning, somersaulting dangerously around the empty road. Everything was so loud, so chaotic. Jongho had completely lost control.

The van stood in the distance, its headlights slicing through the dark like a beacon of terror. Its driver was a mere silhouette in the night, their stillness frightening Jongho even more.

If they decided to hit him again, he'd be done for.

Liquid dribbled down his forehead. Dazed and trembling like a leaf, Jongho wiped it off. Red coated his fingers.

The van began to move.

Jongho tried to unbuckle his seatbelt, but his hands were shaking too much to be of much use.

"Fuck!" He yelled, forcing himself to untangle the contraption as quick as he could.

The van was now racing towards him, its lights nearly blinding the red haired male. Jongho smacked his car open and fell out, leaving a trail of blood in his wake.

A splitting headache ravaged his skull, scratches and bruises littering his body. He was in so much pain, but he knew he had to keep running before that van killed him. He didn't even have the chance to memorize the vehicle's license plate as his life was too much at stake.

The van stopped, but recognizable footsteps echoed down the road. Jongho didn't stop moving, even resorting to crawling away when his legs failed him.

But then, just as Jongho feared he'd die, those footsteps receded, and silence reigned.

Jongho was now abandoned by the side of the empty road, with nowhere to go and no idea where he even was. Ragged gasps escaped his mouth in smokey exhales, and his hoodie did next to nothing to block out the cold.

He searched his jeans for his phone, hating the jerkiness of his hands and how slippery they were due to all the blood. His blood.

God, he was actually bleeding, and he'd almost died tonight. A bitter chuckle left him, because what the fuck just happened?

He soon found his phone, and just like he'd expected, the device was cracked around the edges.

Jongho wiped the blood off its screen and switched it on, relieved it soon responded.

He didn't hesitate to dial his cousin's number.

* * *

Wooyoung opened his eyes to the bitter cold, with his arms wrapped around his bare legs. Chills splintered his core as he looked around, realizing he was in a bathroom.

Stagnant, clear water encircled his body inside the bathtub he was currently submerged in, soothing and warming him entirely.

How did I get here? Wooyoung wanted to ask, but it was like his voice had left him. He tried to move his limbs too, but they remained where they were, weighed down by gravity. He couldn't even turn his head.

The crystalline water rose, swishing about like waves crashing over the shore at sunrise. It smelled nice and soft too. Fruity. Almost like...lemon.

But then the smell grew so prominent it thickened the atmosphere, becoming nearly repulsive to Wooyoung's nose. He started to cough due to the stench.

"It's okay, baby, everything will be alright," a voice then whispered, husky and resonating along the walls of the bathroom. Arms engulfed Wooyoung's frame, causing him to stiffen. "Everything will be okay..."

Wooyoung's breath hitched as Seonghwa's chin nestled on his shoulder, the older's presence pulling him under. Drowning him.

Lemon burned sharply through the air, spoilt and pungent as Seonghwa left scorching kisses all over his neck and shoulder.

"You'll be fine, baby..." Seonghwa's voice grew deeper and more distorted, like several people were trying to speak over each other.

The water started turning scarlet, expanding until it began to caress the apples of Wooyoung's cheeks. Shock filled his eyes as the red water grew so steep it splashed over and raced down the bathtub, staining everywhere with blood.

And Seonghwa was still there, kissing his temple and whispering sweet nothings in his ear.

Wooyoung's eyes blinked open again, but now, instead of a bathroom, he was in his room.

Relief swarmed his senses as his eyes took in the dimly lit familiar area, but as he tried to sit up, fatigue held his joints in place.

"Don't overexert yourself, dear. You'll feel better in a bit."

Wooyoung's heart dropped when he saw the figure sitting at the foot of his bed.

Seonghwa.

The man had his phone in hand, and once their eyes met, he flashed Wooyoung a beaming smile.

"What... What's going...on?" Wooyoung's voice was slurred, exhausted. He felt like he hadn't slept in ages. "My phone..."

"Ah, well," Seonghwa placed the phone on the bedside table, walking closer to where Wooyoung lay. "Your friend, Jongho, is it? He called a few minutes ago, actually, asking if you attended your classes today."

For some reason, that made Wooyoung's body flare up in anger. He didn't even care as much about the possibility that he'd already missed his classes, he just didn't want Seonghwa or any of the others living here getting involved with Jongho.

"...What time is it?" Wooyoung chose to ask even when he bristled with agitation on the inside.

Seonghwa sat beside him, raking his fingers down Wooyoung's hair. The younger male couldn't even stop him. "Five."

"Five..."

"Five pm. You slept through half of the day," Seonghwa answered, voice hushed. He kept looking at Wooyoung adoringly, like he wanted to take care of him.

Wooyoung tried to move once more, but then Seonghwa was in his personal space, his hands firm on his hips as he propped him against a pillow. And Wooyoung could only stare on, too weary to resist.

"You must be hungry," Seonghwa said, eyes warm. "You'll get to eat soon, don't worry."

The door opened, illuminating the otherwise gloomy bedroom, and in stepped Yunho.

Seonghwa waved the tall man over, and Wooyoung noticed the food tray in his bandaged hands. In fact, half of Yunho's right arm had been bandaged as well, and the man had his head down so Wooyoung couldn't even see his face.

He watched as Yunho placed the food-- an assortment of rice and other side dishes -- on the bedside table, movements jittery and rigid like he just couldn't wait to get out of there. After he was done, he took a step back, before kneeling on the floor.

"Apologize." Seonghwa looked furious.

"W-What?" Wooyoung was as baffled as he sounded, even more so. "What's going on?"

"He made you sleep too much, Youngie," Seonghwa replied, his voice sweet despite his eyes shooting enraged daggers at Yunho. "And because of that, he needs to say sorry. Right, Yunho?"

Yunho blinked repeatedly, his hands shaking like they'd been electrocuted. It was then Wooyoung spotted the dark splotches of red decorating a few parts of his bandages.

"Apologize right now," Seonghwa spat, tone harsher than anything Wooyoung had ever heard before.

Is he crazy? Yunho can't even speak! Wooyoung wanted to argue, but before he could say anything, a new voice skimmed the air.

"I-I'm s-sorry," Yunho whimpered, sounding like he hadn't drunk anything in days. His voice was so raspy and weak, it pained Wooyoung to hear. "I-I'm sorry f-for -- for m-making you sleep t-too m-much..."

"Is that the best you can do?!" Seonghwa exclaimed, arm outstretched like he wanted to hit Yunho. In an instant the younger recoiled to himself, his big eyes red and glassy.

What the hell was going on? Wooyoung grabbed onto Seonghwa's arm, stopping the blond before he could do anything to Yunho. "Stop -- please! I um, I've forgiven him. Yes, I have."

Seonghwa relaxed, and so did Yunho.

"Get out," the oldest snapped. In a few seconds, Yunho stood up and hurried out the room like a dog with its tail behind its legs.

A tense, highly uncomfortable silence followed. Seonghwa soon broke it with a meek sigh, taking the food tray off the table.

He wasn't aggravated and red in the face anymore, and his drastic changes in personality made Wooyoung all the more uneasy of the man.

"I bet the food's a little cold now," Seonghwa tsked, gathering a set of metal chopsticks. "I'm truly sorry about that."

Wooyoung gulped, remembering the eerie dream he'd had before he woke up. He could still see the scarlet water sploshing about in the bathtub; could still feel Seonghwa's hands on his skin, touching him.

"Is something the matter?"

Wooyoung blinked. Seonghwa's face had gotten nearer, his arms rubbing over his. "What?"

Seonghwa smiled, eyes shining with mirth, and shook his head. "Relax, Wooyoung. I'll feed you in a sec."

"F-Feed me?"

"Mhm." Seonghwa a small piece of meat and held it up to Wooyoung's lips. "Open up."

"I can feed myself."

Seonghwa's deer-like eyes narrowed in the slightest bit, but he looked far from mad. "You can barely move, Wooyoung. So let me feed you, okay? I even cooked everything for you."

Wooyoung felt like objecting, but the last thing he wanted was to get on the older's bad side. "...Okay."

So, Seonghwa fed him the meat first, which he assumed to be pork since it tasted like it. And then it was bits of rice, veggies and some stew too.

They tasted good; normal, but Wooyoung couldn't shake off the weird feeling he had whenever he took a bite out of the meat and saw Seonghwa intently staring at him.

"Delicious, right?" Seonghwa questioned, taking the glass cup Yunho had also brought along.

Wooyoung stared at his lap. "Yeah, delicious."

"Good."

"Is, uh, is Yunho okay?" Wooyoung suddenly asked. "I saw...bandages wrapped around his arms."

He missed the way Seonghwa's smile fell. "He's alright. Just had a minor accident."

"Oh."

Seonghwa poured him a cold glass of water, before gently pressing it against Wooyoung's lips to drink.

"Thanks."

"You're welcome," Seonghwa chuckled. "See? That wasn't so bad, now was it? It doesn't hurt to let someone take care of you for once."

Wooyoung played with his fingers, only to flinch when the blond's thumb grazed them. "I guess."

"Would you like a kiss goodnight?"

Wooyoung's heart skipped a beat. "What?"

Seonghwa laughed, getting up. "It was a joke. Wanted to see how you'd react."

"...Oh."

Seonghwa knelt beside him, eyes sparkling like stars even in the darkness. Wooyoung swallowed hard at his piercing, unwavering gaze. He was so focused on the younger, it made him breathless.

"I hope you know you can come to me whenever you need anything. I'm here for you if you want to talk, or if you have anything on your mind. Always."

Wooyoung finally allowed himself to look at Seonghwa, and he instantly regretted it. With his bewitching brown eyes, elegant facial structure and the delicate curve of his lips, the man looked nothing less than attractive. Enticingly gorgeous, even.

He was the kind of guy that would've been popular with the girls at the private high school Wooyoung had attended, the kind of guy Wooyoung would've had a crush on if things were different.

But this, this felt wrong. Seonghwa's hands on his neck, stroking his hair, felt wrong. But Wooyoung didn't object, didn't push the man away when he felt his lips brush his cheek.

Wooyoung became lightheaded the second Seonghwa planted faint, eager kisses down his neck and shoulder, and for a moment, he fisted the older's shirt, letting the deep intimacy in the air consume him.

Toes curling, he moaned as Seonghwa's kisses trailed lower. But then his eyes snapped open in shock, reality slapping him in the face. What the fuck are you doing?!

Wooyoung dropped his arms and quickly shifted way, his face on fire. Shit. He wanted to bury himself alive.

Fortunately, Seonghwa said nothing. He just packed up the empty dishes and left the room, leaving Wooyoung to deal with his shame and embarrassment alone.

"Fuck," Wooyoung nearly screamed, hurtling his pillow against the wall. "What the fuck did I just do with him?"

And why did he feel like doing it again?

* * *

- wooyoung
hey, sorry for replying so late
you okay?

- jongho🐻
well, i'm a little hurt, but its fine!
what about you? are you okay?

Wooyoung scratched the back of his neck, the cool breeze promptly soothing the sensitive area. He couldn't stay inside that apartment after the stunt he'd just pulled with Seonghwa, so he'd decided on camping outside the building for a while, hoping the change of scenery would help him sort his thoughts out better.

- wooyoung
what do you mean you're 'a little hurt'? is everything okay??

- jongho🐻
positive👌🏼

- wooyoung
you're lying :(
tell me the truth please

- jongho🐻
only if you promise to do the same?

What does he mean by that? Wooyoung thought. Right then, images of Seonghwa's lips on his body flashed behind his eyes when he blinked, and shame swirled in his gut again.

He needed to distract himself.

- wooyoung
sure, okay!

- jongho🐻
yesterday night, i almost got killed by some van

Wooyoung's jaw dropped.

- wooyoung
oh my god, what??
how did that happen??

- jongho,🐻
i seriously don't know myself

- jongho🐻
i was driving

- jongho🐻 is typing...
- jongho🐻 is typing...

Wooyoung chewed his lip, anxious as to why Jongho was hesitating like this. But he decided against sending anything, not wanting to potentially anger his friend.

- jongho🐻
i was driving back to the dorms after getting a few snacks, and then i thought of taking a detour

- jongho🐻
and then a black van hit me head-on, nearly giving me a concussion. it looked like it wanted to hit me again, so i ran out bleeding, trying to escape. i never got to see who the person was, but they left me alone.

- jongho🐻
i then called jinah, got treated at the hospital, answered the policemen who questioned me about what i saw, and then got discharged like, three hours ago.

- wooyoung
i can't believe that happened to you. i'm so sorry
why would someone do such a thing?

- jongho🐻
i have no idea, but at least i'm okay now 😅

- wooyoung
i'm glad🖤

Jongho didn't answer for a while. Maybe he'd gone to sleep, Wooyoung reasoned, but his phone vibrated with another message.

- jongho🐻
one of your flatmates said you couldn't make it to class when i called that afternoon.
he said his name was park seonghwa, but he didn't sound too excited to speak to me

- jongho🐻
is he the same guy who came to pick you up that night?

Wooyoung exhaled deeply.

- wooyoung
yes

- jongho🐻
i see

- wooyoung
what do you mean by that?

- jongho🐻
he said he's your boyfriend.
is that true?

It felt like all the air inside Wooyoung got sucked out at that moment. He coughed, eyes bulging with surprise.

- wooyoung
no!
he's not my boyfriend, not at all

- jongho🐻
then why did he refer to himself like that??

- wooyoung
i don't know

He felt a presence behind him, and then hands, large and warm, massaging his waist. Wooyoung jolted out of their grip.

"S-Seonghwa..." He breathed, said male grinning at the mention of his name.

"Hey," the blond man greeted, eyes falling on Wooyoung's phone. "Who's that?"

Wooyoung hid the phone from Seonghwa's line of sight. "No one."

It was like the world seemed to have a personal vendetta against Wooyoung, because at that moment, his phone started to ring.

And it was a video call from Jongho.

what does wooyoung do next?

a) pick up the call

b) ignore it

***

a/n: i was gonna write more, but i didn't want the chapter to be too long so

thoughts?