Everyone was in the living room watching a movie. Everyone except Jisung. He was out at a convenience store getting snacks. He hadn't gone home with the rest of them, staying back with the managers to introduce a potential solo song. He only happened to call the others to ask about snacks.
When the door beeped open to their dorm, Chan glanced over to see his young friend holding a bag.
"Hey Ji- are you okay?" The question made everyone's heads turn to look.
Said male had a small pout of sadness painted on his lips. It was dark in the room, but with the television light, they were able to see.
He nods, not verbally responding. He walks over, dropping the bag off by Jeongin, and leaving the room. The boys paused the movie to question what that was about, the leader getting up to go see.
"Ji?" He knocks on his bedroom door, opening it only to find the room pitch black.
"Don't turn on the light." His voice quivered, scaring the leader into disobeying.
When it flashes on, Jisung had a look of horror on his face. "I said don't turn it on, Chan!"
"Why do you still have your makeup on? I thought you..." Chan trailed off as he realized the 'fake cuts' weren't fake. His eyes were trimmed red, glossed over with tears. There was a clean cut on his lip. And the bruising had only just begun.
"What happened?" The elder questioned, stepping forward to grasp his cheeks.
The brunette was quick to think about lying, saying it was nothing, saying that he tripped. But what came out were cries of fear.
Chan embraced him tightly, letting him hold onto him for dear life. "It's okay, Jisung. You're safe now, you're okay."
The younger just continued to cry, trembling in Chan's grasp. He never thought something like that would happen to him. Life is full of surprises. Awful, horrible surprises.
"Breathe Jisung, just breathe. It's okay," he continued to soothe, sympathy placing itself in his gut.
"Felix!" He shouted, rubbing Jisung's back, "come here please!"
Quick, little steps were heard coming to the room. He gasped once he saw his friend sobbing, "what happened?"
"Can you go get the first aid kit?"
"Yeah, be right back."
Chan set the younger on his bed, already planning in his head what he would say to his manager. "I'm gonna clean you up, okay?"
Felix came back with the box full of health care items. He sat next to Jisung, holding his hand and wiping up his tears. "It's okay, hyung."
Jisung sat patiently, letting Chan wipe his cuts clean. It stung a bit, but he made no reaction. Felix gently brushed the back of his hand with his thumb, trying his best to calm him.
"Can you tell me what exactly happened?" Their leader asked, putting the materials away.
Jisung takes a deep breath, grasping Felix's hand tightly. "After I got out of the store, there were a few guys. They just wanted to rough me up a bit. I ran from them, already having gotten hit and stuff. It would've been worse if I hadn't gotten here so quick. That's pretty much it. I didn't want you guys to worry..."
Chan sighs, shaking his head. "We're gonna be worried either way. I don't know how you expected to hide those marks from us. But I'll call the manager and have him look at security tapes from the store. Do you want to come watch the movie with us or no?"
"I think I'm just going to go to bed. Lix, do you mind staying with me?"
"I don't mind at all, Jisungie. Let me go change though."
"I'll leave you two be then. Goodnight-"
"Thank you, hyung. For everything."
"I'll always be here, Hannie."
•How was this?•
