*Now playing - Sign of
the Times by Harry Styles*

The laughter-filled the backyard. A hand on my thigh as we surrounded the bomb fire. It was our first time all being together if you didn't count Jisung's surprise pop-up last time.

Alcohol runs in our systems as we laugh and joke around. Everything was so content and calm that it felt almost impossible that this was reality.

I looked at Changbin and he had a beer in hand, making me smile a bit. He finally allowed himself to let go and I was happy about that. Though I always felt like he held some resentment toward me, I pushed it away.

"Why are you so quiet?" I look at Jisung, the orange hue casting on his face.

"Just taking in the moment," I said with a small smile, my hand finding his cheek—my thumb rubbing over his cheek softly before leaning in and kissing his lips.

"I'm so glad I'm not single anymore" I pull away with a chuckle at Chan's words. I look at him and Valerie by his side.

Jisung smiles widely before taking another drink of his beer. His thumb rubbed over my thigh and I just missed this feeling. All of us are here and having a good time.

But maybe I spoke too soon, maybe the universe really wasn't on my side as Jeongin blurted out something that made everything stop.

"I'm just glad Jisung came out from hiding, I was tired of keeping that a secret"

My eyes slowly go to Jeongin who sat there with Ellie by his side. My eyebrows pulled together "What do you mean?" I felt Jisung tense up beside me and I look at him "What does he mean Jisung?"

Jisung didn't look at me and just shook his head, probably not wanting this out but that's what it was now.

I look to Jeongin again who looked guilty "Don't be mad at me Minho, I didn't tell you because I didn't want to hurt you"

"You knew he was alive too?" I wish he didn't but the look on his face said it all.

"I wanted to protect you—"

"Why does everyone say that?!" I stood up "I don't want protection anymore" I walk away as I felt my vision grow blurry. Walking inside and past a confused Felix who was walking back outside.

I walk out the front door but felt a hand on my arm "Wait" Valerie said and I pull my arm from her grip.

"Fuck off!" I said harshly and she stepped back.

"Minho calms down" Jeongin walked outside.

"Why? Why do I have to calm down when all everybody has been doing is lying straight to my face?!" I spat. "And I'm not fucking dumb, I know Jisung is still lying to me"

"I chose not to tell you that night Minho" Jeongin said "Not Jisung" My jaw clenched "I was the one that came up with the idea actually"

"You knew it would hurt me"

"Yeah but I knew telling you he was on the verge of death would have hurt you as well" I tense up and he shook his head "I never specified if he was dead or alive"

"You hinted at it"

"But I never said a thing, I never want to hurt you. You're my brother for god sake"

Valerie looked at us and quickly excused herself as this seemed more like a family matter and truthfully, I didn't want to see her.

I sigh and sit on the steps, putting my head in my hands as I was growing tired of this. This constant game of lies, it was like a pattern I couldn't find my way out of.

"I was the first responder there," Jeongin said, sitting beside me "When I walked in I-I immediately thought of you Minho, seeing him lying there made me think of how much it would of pained you"

I squeeze my eyes shut, hating that I picture it.

"I knew I had to help him, I just didn't know how at the time. I knew that more cops would show up and I knew that whatever he was there for wasn't legal but Valerie showed up and she talked me through some things and I agreed to keep it secret from the public and the system. I had to lie to the boss and say that he got away and I help set the building on fire along with Moon's body"

I looked at him. "And then you called me"

He nods "I called you, I didn't know if Jisung would make it but I hoped he would"

"Did you know he was alive after?"

He nods again "I did"

I look away and to the empty street "How long?"

"Two weeks after that night"

My eyes widen and I look at him "What the fuck Jeongin?!"

"I helped him Minho!" He snapped back "I checked on him every other day and I was there for him because I knew you couldn't be!" I frown "I knew that's what you would want—for him to be taken care of"

I look down again "You took care of him?"

"Not just me" I look at him again and he smiles softly "But just know he was taken care of and wasn't alone"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means that you need to stop all this worrying, if Jisung is keeping something from you it's just because he himself isn't fully ready to say it out loud"

I grew more confused "But—"

Jeongin shook his head "No 'buts'" He said and put his hand on my shoulder "We all just want to protect you"

I sigh loudly "I don't want protection anymore—I don't need it"

"Doesn't mean we will stop. I promised Jisung I would look after you"

"He made you promise that?"

Jeongin chuckles "I think he made everyone promise" I swallow harshly.

-

"Don't be upset with me" Jisung said.

I sigh softly and turn to look at him, he looked worried "Im not". I scoot closer to where he lay. My hand went to his face and I run it to the back of his head where I softly played with his hair. His arm slung over my body, rubbing my back comfortingly. "I heard he took care of you"

His chest shook with his laughter "Yeah. That kid is a talker"

"What did you talk about?" I asked curiously.

He shrugs "Lost of things" I look deeply into his eyes and he did mine. "I told him not to tell me how you were doing"

I frown "Why?"

"Because I didn't need to know how much you were hurting" My hand goes to a halt and he forces a smile "But when I could actually leave the house, you were the first person I saw"

I swallow harshly "When was that?"

"You were in the shop that was finally fully finished and I watched you talk with Felix and you looked so stressed about something and I wanted to walk in there and help you with whatever it was" His eyes were sad and so was I.

My hand goes back to his cheek and I peck his lips softly, pulling away I said "Let's not talk about this, yeah?"

He nods and I give him a gentle smile "Jeongin would bring up when we were younger"

My eyebrows raise "And what was it about?"

"Oh nothing" He laid on his back with a smirk.

I sit up on my elbow and looked at him "Tell me"

He looks at me "It's nothing" He said with a playful tone and I push his body slightly and he laughs "It's really nothing darling"

"If it's about me, I want to know" I glare at him.

Jisung looks at me "He told me all the times he might have heard us fucking in your room"

My eyes widen and I put my face in my hands "Oh my fucking god"

"I think he mentions you screaming that too," He says with a chuckle.

I shake my head "Stop telling this Jisung, please" I said with an embarrassed laugh.

He grabs my hands, making me pick up my head "You know before we actually slept together I didn't see you as much of—how do I put it? A kinky person?"

I groan loudly and cover my ears as I felt my face grow hot.

"Oh all the things I did to you in that room"

Now I was just getting horny, what the fuck. I drop my hands and look at him "And I didn't see you much of a guy that would like to be handcuffed" I said to him.

Jisung's smile dropped as I start to play his game "All the things I allowed you to do to me while my parents were downstairs" He bit his bottom lips and I smirk "Cute that they thought we were just friends"

"Until they didn't," He said with a sly smirk and I was reminded of that day.

"Don't remind me"

"Why? It was cute"

"Me on top of you isn't cute"

"Right, just super sexy" I roll my eyes.

"My dad gave me a huge lecture after that, thank you by the way"

He laughs loudly "You we're the one on top of me darling, not the other way around"

I huff "Yeah but I told you to lock the door"

"Oops, my fault then"

Our laughter filled the room and I remember these nights. They felt so good. Though earlier wasn't so good, I won't allow that to ruin this time for me—for us.

The atmosphere was carefree in these times when we just reminisced but not on the bad parts of our relationship but on the good.

*Now playing - Sign of
the Times by Harry Styles*