"The strongest demon is..."

JUNG HOSEOK

OCTOBER 24

12:58 AM

Everyone sat around two tables, divided into five people on each. The restaurant was pretty small but felt homely and we were the only customers at that time. It's a surprise that they already give out lunch before noon. Ordering the meals, we all chatted and without doubt, our voices were the loudest there. I looked around the tables, to see everyone having a good time. My attention was drawn towards Minho again as always. He was focused on his phone, the white light shining on his skin. I know I sound creepy but I can't help it, it's Minho we're talkin about.

Even though he was seated beside me, he was miles apart from all of us, engaged in his world inside the phone. Being the curious-caring leader I am, I peeked onto his phone. I'm a person with questionable morals, don't judge. He was reading those records again. I sighed a bit and took the phone from his hand. The others quickly turned their attention on us as i began my words.

"Minho just... just stop okay? Everything's gonna be fine. If I see you checking your mobile about that asylum again, I'm gonna make sure I confiscate your phone!" I warned him as he kept his head low, regretting my actions a little. Minho was never a person to openly show his concern, and to him sweating rivers about that asylum turns me worried for him and my memebers.

"I just... don't wanna lose any of you guys. Weird, I know- but I can't help it" He said in an inaudible voice but enough for both tables to hear. Seokjin who sat next to him had his mother instinct kick in and hugged Minho, just rocking him back and forth. "don't worry..." he kept on chanting assuring words and Minho just nodded along. i was quiet taken aback, not expecting him to cry that easily. The rest of us were similarly shocked and worried as me.

"Thanks for caring about us, but don't forget to care about yourself okay?" I whispered drawing circles on his hand as i held it lightly. He slowly withdraws from seokjin, taking out a tissue and wiping his face. He nodded, a small smile on his face, it widened as he looked at me. "I will" he answered with his raspy voice, face flushed, red eyes and puffed cheeks. despite only tearing up, he looked like he cried for an hour.

"Minho don't cry. If you cry I'll eat your ice cream" Felix playfully said as Minho faked a gasp. I laughed along with the others, ruffling his hair. 

Minho was so much special to me, no not because of his ability to see what we can't see; but because he's Minho. He was the first one to join this program after seeing the ad. His past was horrible, he's hurt and I don't want him to cry. Never again. 

The food shortly arrived, we thanked the owner and immediately dug in. Everyone was really hungry I guess. What ought to be just drinks break, turned into a whole feast, just like every time.

"Hoseok what's our location right now?" Jungkook was the one to ask, sipping on his juice. I thought for a few seconds and replied. "we are currently between Sanju and Gumi... we passed the cognisant national park and we are gonna pass Chilgok in like... thirty minutes if we finish eating quickly" I concluded receiving nods and an "I didn't understand anything you said, but okay" from Hyunjin.

We weren't supposed to be this late but luck wasn't with us when we forgot Taehyung at a store and had to go back. Then when our tire blasted and when Hyunjin vomited, he never vomited when we traveled in fact he loved traveling. Maybe it's the new van. But Minho's statement was un-ignorable. I remember him quoting: "it's like something's stopping us from going there"  Of course, we believed him, we always did. But he didn't say to go back, as he wanted to know why they were stopping us. And by they i didn't mean the ghosts in the asylum but the ones that Minho befriends. That idiot even said he should go there alone.

After an hour or so, Minho took the initiative to drive next, almost pushing me out of the driver's seat. the group was more active now, joking around and playing games. It didn't feel like a work trip at all. Like all the times, this one also felt like a road trip. But with one difference, I smiled as I clicked the delivery button, trying my best to hide it from Seokjin who kept peeking. When this project ends I'm surely gonna do this. I can't waste more time. I think it will arrive correctly, on time at least.

"01:52, we have officially arrived at the forest's entrance" claimed jimin, recording it on his camera. Minho quickly took out his license and program approval and showed it to the guards. The forest guard opened the gate and one of the officers drove in front of us on a bike. Considering he's a forest guard and can't have ten men lost inside the jungle, they gave us a free guide! And Taehyung even made friends with him! ironic isn't it? I remember Taehyung yelling the officer's name was Woo Young or something.

The long and big trees stood still inside the forest, the sunlight peering through thick leaves and reflected off from wet surfaces. Jungkook slowly lowered the glass as Minho switched off the A/C. The chirping of birds welcomed us as we went deeper into the jungle. The old dried-up leaves rustled and crushed under the van's tire all while I felt my heartbeat race up. the anticipation to see the asylum increased in me as we moved forward.

The guard's bike drove in front, Minho slowly followed behind him. "He's so slow" Felix whined as he looked at the forest guard's back, Minho laughed lightly at that. It was true, he was way too slow for our excited hearts, almost like he's trying to kill us with suspense. We were trailing behind him like baby ducklings who doesn't want to lose their way. Nonetheless everyone enjoyed taking time. We never had the chance to do a healing tour and this was perfect.

The sky had started to darken the clock in the van illuminating time as 04:15. The guard suddenly stopped his bike making Minho hit the breaks swiftly, almost smashing Namjoon's face on the front glass. I quickly got ecited, anxiuos to know we reached there. However when i looked out, it was still the forest and dried leaves.

The guard or WooYoung, got off from his bike, walking towards my door. I rolled down the window, Minho standing up and leaning over me, his hands on my seat's headrest. Normally, I would have blushed but this isn't the time. "I'm sorry but I can't go anymore" The guard said as Minho turned to me, eyes wide.

"why? Is there a problem?" I asked, to which he shook his head and answered. "No. if I go any longer it's going to be dangerous for me to go back to the checkpoint" it's true though, traveling at night on a bike in the middle of a dense forest where there's a haunted asylum with mentally unstable ghosts? Not my game.

"then you can go back Er... Woo Young sir? We'll find our location on our own" Seokjin spoke from behind me. The guard smiled and nodded, quickly wishing us good luck and taking a u-turn. Taehyung watched from the back glass as the bike went back, dust flying in the wind. Minho sighed before sitting back and rolling up the windows. "great, we don't even have a guard now..." he trailed off before moving to put on his seatbelt.

Jimin quickly spoke up, holding onto Minho's arm. "don't worry it's not the first time we're going to a forest" he assured as Minho tightly smiled back. "But he was hot!" Felix whined, earning a glare from Yoongi while the others rolled their eyes.

I remember when we went to a forest before, to film a mansion in the woods. Five people were found dead there, without any trace of the killer. The case had happened in the year two-thousand meaning it was three years back when we went there, in 2018 perhaps. And the case turned out that the five people had brutally raped their fellow companion and she might have wanted revenge. And the most unbearable part was that her body was found by us at a forest cabin twenty or thirty miles away from the mansion.

It's was only a skeleton considering the 18 years. But we found her inside a chest, locked up with rusty iron locks and chains, which was easy for Jungkook to break with his fist. The case is still going on, considering no one had a clue of how she died after killing the other five men. But we were off the hook anyway.

"Let's rest for a minute and continue" Yoongi's suggestion made everyone eagerly agree, already bored of the silent jungle. Minho slowly turned the key, followed by the engine completely shutting down. everyone was quick to exit the vehicle, groaning as they stretched The weather was cold, but not to the point that we have to wear coats or jackets, even though we wore jackets. My crew always looks awesome.

"After this project let's go on a hiatus and go on a vacation" Taehyung happily states, making all of them excitedly beam at me. "we could have one" I smirked wiggling my eyebrows making the rest cheer and clap their hands in pure joy. Soon enough, all of us were scattered around the space, getting an awareness class from Seokjin about the horrors of a jungle. Minho was standing quite far away, looking around through his binoculars. I found myself smiling as I made my way towards him. "Found something interesting?" I asked to which he smiled, probably embarrassed. He shook his head as a no and sat down patting the floor beside him.

I plopped down, not minding getting dirt on my clothes. The light from the van made our shadows look long and slender as I also noticed that mine was longer than his.

"You know... I have a surprise for you" I said giving him a small clue of what has to come tomorrow, hopefully if we finish the project in one day. "Are you gonna sell me?" he joked, his lips forming a pout. "I can't even buy a good meal with one dollar" I retorted as he dramatically gasped something he learned from Hyunjin, and lightly punched my shoulder. "How dare you! I could be at least worth a million dollars" he bragged as I laughed at him. Minho's worth a whole universe.

"Yeah..." I trailed off, not having any more to say. A small silence came upon us, a comfortable one. The boys's chatter could mildly reach our ears, alongside the muffled noises of various insects in the forest. Minho suddenly turned towards me, his earrings shining as he did so, Minho's eyes glowed in the light." what's the surprise though?" he enquires, pure curiosity etched in his voice. I smiled before pulling him towards me by his shoulder. Minho frowned at me, showing his confused state.

"After this project ends, you'll know," I said and got a small nod and smile from Minho. "Fine, but it better be worth the wait" A thousand butterflies built a nest inside me at that. Laughing lightly, I pulled him closer.

Just wait until this ends.

"...the one inside us"