☄️= flashback chapter

   This chapter is quite important especially since it pertains to Hyunjin's backstory and I guess the aversion to love he has.

♠

   10 years ago

   "Ah, I hate school with a passion," the twenty-two year old groaned.

   The twenty-four year old across from him laughed.

   "Come on, Hyun, you got this. Think of it in a few years we'll be lawyers," Minho said.

  "Not me. I'll be a forensic psychologist," Shuhua said.

   "I'll be your hacker, dear," Yeonjun said, holding Shuhua's hand.

  "Still taken, dear," Shuhua stated, pulling her hand away.

  "Rejected once again, ouch," Soobin laughed.

   "Come here, Choi, I'm sure you won't reject me. I'll kiss you slowly, trail some nice soft kisses down your neck, maybe, leave a few marks," Yeonjun bit his lip, his finger trailing down Soobin's neck, "Give me a chance, Binnie and I'll make you forget everything but my name," he finished, running his thumb acrossed Soobin's lower lip.

    "Guys, gross. We are in public," Minho said.

  "I'm sorry, wasn't it you and Chan who Hyunjin caught fucking in the dean's office?" Soyeon said.

   "Oh gosh, don't remind me of that, it is something I swish I could erase from brain," Hyunjin said, pressing his hands against his eyes to try and rid himself of the image.

   Arms wrapped around Hyunjin's neck and a sweet vanilla scent invaded Hyunjin's sense of smell.

  "Hey, darling," a sweet voice said softly.

   Hyunjin held the girl's arms thumbs rubbing soft circles on them.

  "Hey, cherry. What are you doing here? I thought you were going out with your friends,"

    The brunette sat next to Hyunjin, "I was, but I got bored and missed you, and I knew you guys were studying late, so I went back to our place and prepared some food for everyone," she said, setting a relatively large lunch box on the table.

  "Thanks, Jules," Shuhua said.

   "Yes, thank you, cherry," Hyunjin said, leaning over and kissing the girl.

  Julianna smiled softly after the kiss.

    "I made everyone's favourite," she said, passing the containers to everyone.

  "You are an angel, honestly, isn't she?" Yeonjun questioned.

   "Sorry, my angel will always be my little brother," Minho said.

  "Right, Min, how is he?" Soyeon asked softly.

   Minho hummed, "I'm not entirely sure, to be honest… I visited him the other day, but uh, he's still not talking… the doctors aren't sure he will ever really do anything by himself again or ever be himself again," Minho paused, "but, uh, you know, there is hope because he is reading.

   It is something the doctors noticed, he reads anything and everything. They just aren't sure if he is taking in the information," he said, pursing his lips.

   "I'm sure he'll get better, min," Soyeon said, holding Minho's hand.

  "What happened? If you don't mind me asking," Hyunjin asked.

  "Uhm, my little brother was in a pretty bad accident and the trauma from it has just kind of made him unresponsive to everything," Minho told him.

  "I'm so sorry, Minho," Julianna said.

   Minho shook his head, "I'm just glad that I still have him here,"

    ~4 years later

   "Fuck you, Minho, I'm not a kid anymore!"

  Hyunjin's brows drew together as he entered the flat.

  "Stop, lix, you know why I am like this," Minho stated.

  The person Hyunjin assumed was 'Lix' groaned, then there were stomps down the hall. Hyunjin only caught a glimpse of the pretty lavender haired boy before he stormed out.

   Hyunjin walked further into the flat, "Who was that?"

   "My little brother, he is pissed because he can't go on a school trip," Minho said.

  "Why can't he?" Hyunjin questioned.

  "Because I don't want him to,"

   "How old is he?"

  "Eighteen," Minho answered.

     "Okay, Min, I get that you are a bit protective of him because of his accident, but he needs a little bit of freedom and a school trip won't be that bad, I mean won't Jisung be there? Jisung is your boyfriend, he'll tell you if anything goes wrong," Hyunjin said.

  Minho narrowed his eyes at the younger, "I hate when you make points, anyways are you here for the thing?"

   Hyunjin nodded.

  "So you are really going to do it today?" Minho asked.

"Yeah, Jules and I have been together for Twelve years to this day, I think now it a good time," Hyunjin said, taking the small black velvet box from Minho.

  "Well goodluck, I'm just surprised that you aren't using your mom's ring,"

  Hyunjin pursed his lips, "I don't know, just figured, I'll save it,"

   Minho hummed and nodded, "Goodluck man,"

  Hyunjin nodded.

  ♠

   Hyunjin entered his flat quietly.

   His head tilted hearing soft talking. His movements were slow as he walked towards the room.

  Opening the door, his breath caught in his throat and his heart fell to his stomach.

   Julianna shot up, holding the sheet to her chest, "Hyun-Hyunjin, you're home," she said.

  "Too early, I suppose," He muttered.

   The man next to Julianna sat up.

  Hyunjin let out a short chuckle as he shook his head, "I expected a lot of things to end our relationship. Your alcohol addiction, my workaholic tendencies, your parents, your tendency to lie, my sister, my inattentiveness, that is just some of them. This, however, was not on that list," he said.

   "Hyunjin…" she said.

   Hyunjin put his hand in his pocket and fumbled with grabbing the small box, when he finally grabbed it he pulled it out of his pocket and tossed it on the bed.

   "I went to your dad last week and got his blessing because I knew that was a big thing for you. Happy twelve years, Julianna,"

   The woman pursed her lips.

  "I'll come by tomorrow to get my stuff," Hyunjin muttered, leaving.

♠

   Hyunjin leaned against the metal railing twisting the ring on his finger.

  Finally, he took it off and threw it into the body of water in front of him.

  "You know that is bad?" A soft but deep voice said, leaning against the railing beside Hyunjin.

  "I don't particularly care, right now," he muttered.

   "Break up?"

   "How could you tell?" Hyunjin questioned sarcastically.

   The other chuckled.

  "My cousin, she threw a promise ring her girlfriend had gotten her in the ocean after a break up,"

  Hyunjin glanced at the other.

  "Why are you out here? And without a jacket?"

  "I had an argument with my brother, just left without thinking, forgot how cold it gets at night around this time of year,"

   Hyunjin shrugged his jacket off leaving him in his long sleeve and tossed it at the other.

  "Why?"

  "Because it is cold and I'm sure you don't want to get sick," Hyunjin said.

  The male put it on, "And how will I return this jacket to its owner?"

  "If we ever meet in the future, you can give it back,"

    The younger hummed watching Hyunjin stand up straight.

  "I have to go, don't stay out here too long," Hyunjin told him.

  "Goodbye, stranger,"

    "Bye," Hyunjin said softly.

  Present day

   Hyunjin glanced over at Felix, pursing his lips seeing the jacket.

    How had he not realised earlier?