[Thursday - 08.07]

"Park Ji. Please report to the principal's office."

Ji sighed and got up, collecting their stuff. They silently exited their history class, heading towards the principal's office.

They hadn't seen or spoken to Minho or any of the older's friends since the group went to take a break, leaving Ji alone in the studio.

The latter knocked softly on the door, making sure their beanie was covering the white bandage wrapped around their head. They pulled the sleeve of their black hoodie down to cover the bandage wrapped around their arm as best they could.

"Enter."

Ji twisted the doorknob, stepping inside. The principal sat in her chair, accompanied by two police officers in the vacant seats across from her.

"You called me in." Ji monotonely said.

"Park Ji, correct?"

Ji nodded.

"You were sent to the hospital in an ambulance 2 days ago after a student found you in a pool of your own blood inside one of the production studios, correct?"

Ji nodded again.

"These injuries were caused by someone else, correct?"

Ji nodded again.

"These are the officers in charge of the investigation. Sadly we do not have cameras inside the studios for privacy reasons, so we have to ask you who did it." The principal seriously explained.

"Might i add that you can be put into police protection if you wish. We are here to help you, son." One of the policemen added, trying to smile friendly at Ji.

"I don't remember." Ji shrugged.

"You don't remember?" The other policeman repeated, the first one writing Ji's answer down.

"If you didn't read the medical report, it clearly stated that I got a serious trauma to the back of my head. I don't remember." Ji urged, glaring at the man.

"No reason to get angry, kid. Now, this trauma. If  it was really as serious as you described, how come you're back to school after only 2 days." The second policeman asked.

"Don't you think that's a bit personal to ask?" Ji sneered back.

"I think it's perfectly appropriate. Might I add that we can give you quite the fine for not cooperating with policemen during investigation." The man threatened.

Ji glared at him, scoffing.

"I got a second degree concussion. I'm back here because not everyone can be a millionaire. I can't fucking afford staying in the hospital my whole life." Ji growled.

"When you say you can't afford, you mean you and your guardian? A Mr. Park Jinyoung." The policeman asked, looking at his papers.

"I think I am entitled a lawyer. I would like my lawyer present if you're gonna ask questions this personal." Ji calmly said.

"Well, I guess we'll see you in court, Mr. Han. Your lawyer will be in contact shortly, you can leave." The policeman said, acting unbothered when he was clearly pissed off.

"No, I will not see you in court. I am not pressing charges on my case, and you have no legal right or reason to take me to court. Might I remind you I am the victim? I want this case dropped." Ji firmly stated.

The policeman closed his file standing up.

"Very well. We will make sure your case is dropped Mr. Park. It was a pleasure meeting you." The second policeman said, shaking hands with Ji before leaving through the door, the second policeman following close by.

Ji sneered to themselves, cursing at the two under their breath.

"You are dismissed, Mr. Park. Here's your hallway pass, take the rest of the period off." The principal smiled softly at Ji.

Ji thanked her and accepted the pass, leaving the office. The latter sighed to themselves, starting to wander down the halls.

---

[Thursday - 08.19]

"Minho calm down!"

"No, No I heard it! She said Park Ji! Ji's here today!" Minho desperately said, rushing towards the principal's office.

He could see two police officers leaving the school as he rushed past the cafeteria. He cursed at his teacher for not letting him go until he had answered every question on his test. He'd just have to hope every answer was b.

The boy threw the door to the principal's office open without knocking, rushing inside.

"Excuse me, Sir. It is not appropriate to enter without permission!" The principal scolded.

Minho looked around the room desperately.

"Where's Ji! Where is Ji!" Minho urged, eyes wide and worried.

"He just left. He got the rest of the period off so he should be in the halls somewhere. Now you are supposed to be in cla-"

"Thank you, I gotta go!" Minho yelled, storming back out of the office.

'Ok, if I was Ji, where'd I go?'

"Minho calm down! We'll find them!" Chan grabbed Minho's shoulder, trying to gain his attention.

"Locker!" Minho exclaimed, rushing toward Ji's locker in the vocal's building.

He had been worried sick about Ji, every since he turned around two days ago to realize Ji hadn't followed the group outside like he expected. He had gone back inside, finding a crowd surrounding the studio, but still no Ji. All that was left was a puddle of blood in front of the decorative table behind the desk chairs in the small studio.

Minho rounded a corner, eyes piercing into the figure whom was busy putting their stuff away into their locker.

The boy whimpered, running straight towards Ji, throwing himself against the younger's back.

"Ji! Oh my God I was so worried!" Minho sobbed, head buried in Ji's hoodie.

"Min?" Ji asked, trying to turn around.

Minho kept sobbing softly into their back, arms wrapped firmly around their waist.

"Min, let me turn around." Ji softly said, trying to loosen Minho's death grip on their body.

Minho forcefully spun Ji around, wrapping both arms around the latter's neck in a tight hug. Ji sighed and hugged Minho back.

Minho pulled away, hands immediately gluing themselves to Ji's cheeks, turning their face in all directions to look for injuries.

"What happened! Where did you go! Why didn't you answer your phone! I was so fucking worried! I couldn't find you, but-but there was blood, there was so much blood, a-and they said an ambulance, but that wasn't you right, you didn't do- not your blood right!" Minho rambled, tears slipping out of his eyes.

"Calm down Min! Breathe." Ji softly said, removing Minho's hands from their face to hold them tenderly in their own.

Minho drew a couple deep breaths, eyes never leaving Ji as if he was scared the younger would disappear if he closed them.

"I'm fine. I just had to go home and deal with something." Ji whispered.

Minho sighed and nodded softly in relief. The latter closed his eyes, leaning his forehead against Ji's.

Chan watched from across the hall, leaning on the wall with a soft smile. He watched Ji slip their hands out of Minho's, raising them to cup Minho's jaw lightly like a feather. Minho raised his hands to Ji's sides, running them softly up and down.

The two swayed from side to side for a second, carefully connecting their lips in the softest, most loving kiss Chan had ever seen. After they pulled away Minho sighed deeply again, pulling Ji in for another hug, holding them firmly but softly, face burying in their shoulder.