~Min-hee~

She heard him curse once or twice, or at least that's what it sounded like, he was mumbling it to himself, and through the closet door, it was impossible to tell what he was saying. She wished she could at least sort of make it out, she wanted to know if he thought anybody had been in his room. It wouldn't take long for him to suspect Min-hee if he discovered that much.

All of a sudden, the doorknob twisted. Min-hee's heart jumped straight into her throat. He was going to catch her. What would she say? What could she say? Wouldn't he just do something terrible to her, knowing that she found out?

Min-hee buried her face in her knees as the door opened. She wished she was invisible, she wished and hoped and prayed that he didn't see her, that somehow she'd get out of here when he left.

"M-Min-hee?!" She heard him yell.

That was it, she was dead, he was going to kill her, there was nothing she could do. She looked up at him, he wasn't wearing a shirt, probably only looked in the closet for a change of clothes, but tears were already welling in her eyes, "P-please don't hurt me, I didn't mean it, I swear I didn't... I won't tell anyone!"

Tao stared at her, confused. Then realization dawned in his eyes and he bit his lip. "Won't tell anyone what?" He asked, though it was obvious in his voice that he knew what she was talking about.

"T-the letter... Please don't kill me..." Min-hee whispered, hiding her face again. She hoped that was enough, she'd never begged for her life before, she wasn't sure what else to say.

She felt a hand grab her arm and pull her to her feet. "Go." Tao said, voice low and even.

Min-hee looked up at him, lip quivering as she felt herself about to openly sob. Go? Had he said go? As in she could leave? Just like that? "R-really?"

Tao pulled her out of the closet and pushed her toward the door. "Get out."

Min-hee bit her lip, "I'm sorr--."

"Just shut up and get out!"

With that Min-hee nodded and left the room. He hadn't killed her, he hadn't hurt her, everything should be fine. But it wasn't. It didn't feel right, Tao wasn't vicious, he couldn't hurt anyone, that letter had to be bogus, it just had to be. It was some sick joke, right?

Min-hee started to walk away, going down the hall, she didn't care so much if her shoes squeaked now, and they squeaked awful loud on the clean floor. She felt ridiculous, stupid, tricked, everything all at once.

Min-hee stopped. She heard sniffling. What if Tao was...? No, he couldn't be. Min-hee hesitated for a second, then headed back to Tao's room, peeking around the door.

Tao was sitting at the edge of his bed, his head in his hands, his bare shoulders shaking. The sight made her think twice. He was crying, he looked so sad. How could this guy hurt anyone? How could she even ever think that?

She bit her lip, looking back at the hallway, he'd told her to get out, if she did anything other then that, he might not be so nice.

~Tao~

He wondered who she would tell, what she would do. If she had any sense, she'd go get the police, but getting them would only get them both killed, he had a special rule about police, and he must have at least a dozen people on the inside.

Maybe he should have tried to talk with her. But when he saw the look on her face, heard the tremble in her voice, he couldn't even think of where to start without making her more scared. Because she looked terrified of him. What could she possibly think? That he was some kind of assassin? That he was some criminal?

He liked to think he wasn't.

As soon as she left the room, he sat down on the bed, finding he couldn't keep himself standing anymore, and then the tears came. God, he was so stupid.

He knew exactly why he was upset, but he didn't want to admit it, he was upset because he was sure Min-hee thought he was something he wasn't. He wasn't sure why her opinion mattered so much to him, but it hurt to think he'd never see that ridiculous dork again.

Tao laid back on the bed, hugging his stuffed panda to his chest and trying to stop the tears and just staring at the ceiling. But every time he almost felt the tears stop, his heart would ache and more tears would come.

Dammit.

He hated himself. For everything, for anything.

Tao put a hand over his eyes. He couldn't even bear to just stare at the ceiling anymore.

After another moment, he felt Suri trot into the room and jump on his chest. Tao didn't have the energy or even the ability to speak through his sobs, even if her paws were scratchy and bothered him, so he just let her lay there.

"Tao?"

Tao blinked, taking his hand off his eyes and looking where the voice had come from. Min-hee stood there, looking sad, her hands clasped together with white knuckles.

Tao sat up, making Suri leap off his chest. "I...I told you to g-get out." He stated, though it probably sounded like he wanted her gone. Which wasn't the case, he wanted her to stay.

Min-hee took a step back. Then looked off to the side, pushing her glasses back up her face as they slipped. She was going to leave, Tao was sure of it, she wouldn't just stick around after he yelled at her like that.

Tao was incredibly surprised when he felt her arms wrap around his waist, squeezing him. It took Tao a moment to realize he'd started crying harder, and when he did, he leaned into her, burying his face in her shoulder.

"Tao, tell me the truth... Because I don't think you're nearly as mean as you pretend to be, and I don't think you'd kill anyone." She backed out of the hug for a second, putting hands on either side of his face to make him look at her.

Tao stared at her, searching her eyes. Could he just outright trust her? Because there wasn't a way to tell her without telling her everything. If he told her a half truth like what he'd told Baekhyun, she'd still be scared of him, and he couldn't live with that.

"I have nothing." He started, wiping tears.

"What do you mean?" Min-hee asked, quietly.

"I'm...I'm broke."

Min-hee frowned. Obviously not understanding.

"No one ever liked me when I had nothing, Min-hee, I..." He paused to wipe more tears, he couldn't believe he was actually going to tell her, that he was crying in front of her. "I needed the money, and at first it was just small things, just dropping off packages, then it became...fighting, and now...He wants me to..."

Tao couldn't take it anymore, he pulled Min-hee toward him, hugging her tight while he buried his face in her stomach, crying so hard he couldn't speak.

Min-hee was surprised at first, her body stiffening, then she slowly started patting his back, hugging him too, "It's alright, Tao...Maybe there's a way out."

No, there isn't, he won't let it go that easy. He won't let the evidence live. But he didn't have the heart to tell Min-hee that, not when she was already scared.

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A/N: Of course, while listening to the XOXO album, "Baby Don't Cry" Would come on right as I was writing Tao's part--OF COURSE! Now I'm a crying mess x'D

Why does the universe feel I need to cry all the time? AIYAH!

Also, I didn't proof read this very thoroughly, please tell me about any mistakes in grammar or spelling ^-^ AND then Vote+Comment, eh? ^__________________^