But I'm okay {Stray Kids Spanking Story}

Tearjerker {I.N} pt. 2/2

// Third POV //

Jeongin should be scared.

And he was, but there a different kind of emotion stirring up inside his bloodstream: Fury.

Ignoring his seven hyungs' look of disapproval, I.N found his voice and raised it high:

"You made that up?! What is wrong with you, hyungs?! Don't you know how scared I was? Thinking that something horrible happened to Changbin hyung?"

"You're right." BangChan said sincerely. It wasn't his idea to lie to the maknae; when the manager came to him and told the older Aussie that the school called him and informed him of I.N's disappearance, he didn't want to get the others involved.

It would just scare I.N to have all seven of his older hyungs giving him grief but Chan thought it was necessary. This was the first time their maknae has done something like this and the leader needed some help from his younger members, I.N was their dongsaeng as well, he welcomed their opinion on how to approach this.

"So Changbin hyung," I.N turned his disturbed eyes to the rapper. "You aren't hurt."

"No." Changbin let go of his usual happy persona and was uncharacteristically straightforward and irritated.

Jeongin scoffed. Chan was struck by the quick change of attitude he saw, I.N teased his hyungs more times than invited but he was a respectful maknae, he has never given this type of uncaring manner to his hyungs before.

"Explain yourself." The Aussie demanded, frowning when his maknae folded his arms. "Uncross your arms, now."

He obeyed but rewarded his oldest hyung with a glare.

Hyunjin was furious with the kid's rudeness. "Correct your stare, maknae. You are in a lot of trouble so I suggest you watch your words and answer your hyungs when we speak to you."

Despite this statement angering the maknae even more, he figured that it would end quicker if he just listened so he took a deep inhale, taking his eyes off the leader and pointing them to the ground.

"Do you think this is a game?" Chris began scolding again. "Skipping school is a serious, serious offense. First, cheating on your exam, now skipping classes? What's with this rebellious behavior you have been demonstrating lately?"

I.N wanted nothing more than to give his leader an explanation. He wanted to share what he's been hiding for the past six months: the bullying, the depression, the anxiety, feelings of just wanting to leave and never go back.

But something inside of him prevented his common sense from convincing him. He was still so pissed off, not with his hyungs, but with all the expectations he gives himself. He's overworked and he just became an adult. He felt like his years of being his hyungs' pride and joy were over, he needed his hyungs to understand these feelings but he couldn't voice them. They were already upset with him, they might think he's making everything up to not be in trouble.

The youngest member's silence just made Chris more livid, he raised his voice back up, becoming heavily enraged by his bratty maknae.

"YAH! ANSWER ME!"

Chris's burst made everyone in the room flinch back, even the manager. Tears fell out of I.N's eyes:

"I just wanted a day to myself. Is that too much to ask for?!"

"You wanted a day to yourself so you made everyone panicked and avoided your responsibilities?"

"I didn't ask everyone to panic!"

"So what? I'm just supposed to leave you alone? Do whatever you want to do?"

Amongst this screaming match, the remaining six watched as the maknae and oldest hyung battled it out. They were impressed about Jeongin's bravery. The fact that he felt so bold as to raise his voice to their stern, authoritative hyung honestly amazed them.