𝑭𝒍𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓 𝑭𝒊𝒆𝒍𝒅𝒔 - 𝓜𝓲𝓷𝓼𝓾𝓷𝓰

𝓒𝓱; 17 𝓣𝓻𝓸𝓾𝓫𝓵𝓮𝓶𝓪𝓴𝓮𝓻

The winter seemed more cold than usual, yet that didn't stop people from being excited. It was the holiday season. With Christmas being just around the corner, everyone had been in their best spirits lately. The houses were decorated, and the trees had been standing almost weeks before the actual Christmas holiday. The schools were also going all out this year with the decorations and the events. Now that exams were also over, people finally had the chance to rest and wait until the vacation arrived. The school, however, had other ideas instead of just relaxing. 

"A Christmas Eve party?" Felix read out loud. They stood in front of the school's clipboard. There was an enormous poster with golden letters written all over it. The paper had balloons and small decorations printed all over its surface, and in the middle written with golden letters: "Christmas Eve Party". At the bottom, it also wrote that they invited all students from the third year. "Sounds fun!" Felix's eyes brightened just thinking about it. Seungmin noticed Jisung's disappointed expression as he lowered his face from the poster. "Can't go?" Seungmin asked, even though he could probably guess the answer already. Jisung nodded. "I can't. I have work that day."

"Oh.." Felix outed. Jisung noticed how his friend's excitement had died down. He felt a sting in his chest, feeling guilty for ruining this moment. "But you guys can go!" Jisung assured both of them. "But that's not the same." Felix pouted. "It's no fun without you." He put his arm around Felix. "Please," Jisung begged them. "I will feel guilty if I guys don't go just because of me." Seungmin gave him an unsure look. "Are you sure?" he asked, still hesitant. Jisung put his other arm around Seungmin, giving him a certain smile. "Of course, have fun with each other. I don't want to be a third wheel for the entire night," Jisung teased the clingy boyfriends. 

"Hey-" Seungmin started, but quickly got pulled back by his boyfriend. "Minnie, don't," Felix chuckled, still holding back Seungmin while Jisung stuck out his tongue just to provoke him more.

The night was more busy than usual just as the music was a bit different than usual as well. I mean, how could Jisung know that the party would be held here in the bar where he works? Everything was covered with silver and golden decorations. Jisung ignored the stares he got from some of his classmates. Instead, he just focused on pouring the drinks for everyone that sat around the bar. "Here you go." Jisung shoved a drink towards a guy that was seated. The guy peered at him with a smirk. "Aren't you too young to work here?" he asked. Jisung didn't like this guy's vibe at all. Jisung tried to walk away from this strange guy, the feeling of discomfort occupying his body. Unfortunately, he was called over by him again. "Where are you going?" 

Jisung sighed and walked back to him. "Is there something else you need?" It's not like Jisung wanted to be anywhere near him, but this was his job so he couldn't ignore any of the customers. The guy slid his hand up to Jisung's wrist, slowly but definitely intently. 

"What are you doing?" Jisung panicked and tried to get out of the guy's grip. "I know you want this," he whispered into Jisung's ear as he got closer. Jisung's heartbeat increased painfully within the seconds, signals of panic shooting through his veins. He felt himself getting hot. He didn't know if it was due to the cramped space or this guy touching him. Either way, there was one thing he did know, and that was, he couldn't breathe.

Then, a fist struck the guy's face, Jisung flinching and stumbling a few steps back. The guy that had assaulted him before, fell back due to the unexpected intensity of the hit. "What the bloody hell is wrong with you?!" he yelled. Jisung felt his consciousness slowly return after blinking a few times, the white flare he saw before him dissipating. His breath caught in his throat while his eyes widened when he saw who was standing there. Then, a deafening ring sounded through his head. Jisung recoiled and covered his ears. 

Minho's eyes were fuming, continuing to punch the guy on the floor. "Shut your filthy mouth, pervert!" Minho spat as he threw another punch at the guy's face. Felix rushed towards Jisung and caught him before he fell to the ground. "Seungmin, get over here!" he yelled as he held the unconscious male in his arms. Seungmin kneeled down next to him, wiping a wet cloth across Jisung's face.

Jisung squinted his eyes due to the pain of his remaining headache as he tried to get up. "Are you alright?" Felix looked even more worried when he asked that. "I'm fine. I'm fine.." Jisung reassured him. Seungmin and Felix helped him stand up which also revealed the situation that had unraveled. 

"Seungmin, what the hell is going on over there?" Jisung's voice rose, completely taken aback by how quickly everything escalated. The bar filled with loud cheers and shouts of the people as they crowded the place just to see the two in the middle fight. 

"As soon as we got here we saw Minho involved in a fight," Seungmin answered him. It was heavy, there was one kick or punch after the other and it seemed as if it wasn't going to stop until someone held the both of them back. 

Seungmin saw the look in Jisung's eyes and quickly stopped him. "Oh no you won't." he warned. But it was too late. "Jisung!" Felix yelled after him as he got out of their grasp.

Jisung pushed through the large crowd, running towards Minho as another guy held the other man back. "Calm down, Minho. Don't cause a fuzz." Jisung said to him as soon as he got to his side. He grasped Minho's arm in case he was still ready to beat the living hell out of that pervert. Minho turned to him, meeting Jisung's eyes, begging him to stop. It only caused him to calm down a bit, but not enough to not start again. "Let's go," Jisung said, dragging the other outside with him.

The glare on Minho's face didn't leave even when they got outside. Jisung crossed his arms, turning to give him a scolding look. "What the fuck do you think you're doing?" 

Minho scoffed and rolled his eyes. Jisung jerked Minho's head back to him with his hand, making him meet his eyes. "Look at the mess you caused!" he scolded and motioned towards the other's face. Tt was covered in wounds, dried blood around its edges. Jisung sighed, dropping his hand to his own side again. "Come with me." he demanded and pulled Minho by his wrist with him again through the dark streets. It kind of felt like déjà vu. "Where are we going?" Minho asked in confusion while he still got dragged by the other against his will. "My house." the other deadpanned.

The door opened, revealing a concerned mother. "Oh my goodness, are you both okay?" she asked upon meeting Minho's face covered with red and purple spots. "Mom, I will take him upstairs," Jisung ensured her as he helped the other onto the staircase. "Call me if you need anything, Ji!" she called after her son before they disappeared. 

"You caused me trouble." Jisung didn't look at Minho even though he was this close to his face again. Minho's forehead creased in pure disbelief, scowling at him. "So you were just going to let him harass you like that?" Though it was not as obvious, Jisung still noticed the angered undertone of that line. 

"Fine, then don't talk." Minho crossed his arms and laid back. Jisung leaned in closer to continue treating him, dipping the cotton in the ointment. "You can't always come to interfere, Minho. You can't always try to save me." It was the truth. He couldn't always show up in his life and protect him from all of this. Minho's eyes grew dark. "Then if I can't," he paused to look up at Jisung. "Will you protect yourself?" 

Jisung let out a heavy breath. "Why do you still keep trying?"  he thought to himself, turning back to the medical box on his stand.  

"I am used to it." he answered him. Silence.

"Used to it? You are not supposed to be used to this!"

"It's more than that, Lee Minho!"

Jisung shut his eyes and sighed, pressing shut the box on his stand. "Look, I am sorry, I know you were just trying to help me and I shouldn't have taken that for granted." God, how does such a human being exist? 

"No." Minho stopped him from apologizing. "You are right I caused you trouble, and I shouldn't have interfered like that." he admitted. Jisung looked up to him as he continued, Minho staring right back at him in his eyes. "So please,"

"Will you allow me to protect you?"