Stealers & Thieves

Twenty Two

Han glanced at the back through the back mirror. Minho was driving and he was in the passenger seat. He shuffled in his seat, being the only noise to ever squeak out in the silent car. He nibbled on his bottom lip, debating whether to speak up or not. 

"Ok. Before Han here bites off his lip, someone tell me why the mood in this car looks like we're playing a game of silence?" Minho spoke. 

Han flinched at that. But he nodded and whipped around, looking at the back. And for sure he was met with silence. Changbin and Hyunjin were sitting opposite each other but staring outside without uttering a word. Jeongin and Felix glanced at each other and shrugged back at Han. Seungmin was merely sleeping at the very backseat with Chan looking out idly. 

Hyunjin's mind kept flashing back to that moment with Haknyeon last night. It was just the briefest brush between lips yet it made one hell of an impact. Hyunjin couldn't decipher whether the bubbling feeling in his chest was from annoyance or nervousness or all mixed in one. 

On the other side Changbin was thinking of the same subject but it was a different location for him. And maybe a different context too. Does that Haknyeon go around kissing people if it means an escape? Is that what that kiss with Changbin was? A mean of distraction for an escape. 

"Were my lips just used?" Changbin wondered aloud but not loud enough for the rest to hear. 

Han gave up and sat back in his seat, crossing his arms. Minho focused on driving, occasionally glancing at Chan who seemed deep in thought. It was only when they arrived at the port that everyone came back to their sense. 

Juyeon frowned at Haknyeon who can't seem to sit still or be quiet at all. He poked him in the side and raised a brow. 

"Why do you keep picking your ears? That's gross." Juyeon said. 

"I don't know. It just feels really itchy for some reason." Haknyeon grumbled. In addition to that, he had a headache that came and go. 

Kevin peeked back from his passenger seat in the front. Younghoon was driving and Changmin and Jacob were in the middle seat. Changmin turned back to Haknyeon. 

"Someone must be talking behind your back. What did you do last night?" Changmin asked, wriggling his brows. 

"What do you mean what did I do last night?" Haknyeon chuckled nervously. 

"Hak, everyone knows you sneaked out to the clubs with Hyunjun and met Sunwoo and Eric there." 

"Wha- how?....... Kevin hyung!" 

"What? I couldn't exactly say four grownups were stuck in the toilet." Kevin defended himself. 

"Sangyeon hyung isn't angry. Though the other three in that car might be in for a grilling session." Jacob informed.

Haknyeon nodded even though Jacob didn't turn his head back to him. He stared at the back of his head for a while before averting his gaze outside. They were nearing the shore by now. The port was just coming into view. .

They drove into the compound and pulled up beside a rusty blue container. The other car pulled up behind them just a few seconds apart. The members all got out and gathered around. 

Sangyeon walked to the front a bit and turned back to the others. He nodded at Kevin who pulled out a tablet while Hyunjun and Juyeon brought out a drone. They set it down as Eric maneuvered it above them and towards the clearing.