̷W̷e̷.̷ 𝐈 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐝 [MINSUNG] Book Two

September 4th, 2017

⚠️-mention of addiction
⚠️-chronophobia (it's a very real phobia that can lead to Dorian Gray Syndrome so take this seriously if you have it even mildly)

It was the first day of the school year: Chan, Minho and Changbin's final year of school. It terrified Jisung to think about how, in less than 365 days, he could no longer look forward to seeing Minho and Chan at school, and Changbin on Gang Nights - what the group called their gatherings.

He was officially two months sober, the weening off process being the most excruciating thing he'd ever experienced. To the point where he wouldn't even discuss it with Minho.

Three and a half months since the car accident. Could it really be called that if they didn't really crash into anything?

He stood on the field, waiting for his friends to arrive, and for the day to just start and be over with. He hated the initial shock that came with first days at school. To add to it, this was the first day of a year where he couldn't help but count down the days until three of his best friends' lives would change forever, and as a result, change the group forever.

A hand landing on his shoulder snapped him out of his thoughts. "You okay there?"

"Dude do NOT do that!"

"Sorry sorry," Felix laughed. "You just looked so out of it, like you're on another planet."

"I just got stuck thinking about the year up ahead. And the year that just passed. How fucked up its been, how wonderful it was at certain times. The people gained and the people lost. The achievements we've made as a group, and losses we share. Can you believe its been three and a half months since-"

"Can't believe you actually count the days.."

"I do, its important to me."

"Its important to all of us."

"Of course, I just-"

Chan and Minho's distant laughter diverted the conversation. They were walking over with arms slung around each other, Jeongin trailing behind rolling his eyes at them. When they finally reached the other two, Minho detached from Chan and hugged Jisung tight. "Morning love, you ready?"

"For?"

"The new school year of course!" Minho was clearly excited for his final school year, and was very obviously avoiding the truth of how it would end, how the last year had ended.

Jisung was less ready to pretend. "How could I be ready Minho?"

Minho's smile faded into a look of understanding. They'd all pretty much been avoiding... everything.

"No brownie stand?" Jeongin directed at Felix.

"Felt wrong without him here," he shrugged.

"Its a tradition nonetheless," Chan said dejectedly.

"Its just...let's face it, this is a terrifying day for us all. For many reasons we won't drudge up right now. And on top of it... one of us is missing, it just doesn't feel right."

"Don't say that like it's his fault," Jisung whispered because his voice didn't seem to want to come through. 

"That's not what I meant!" Felix immediately defended.

Its fair to say the group was severely sensitive and off-balance this day, understandably. The morning bell rang loudly and they dragged themselves to the first class, English.

Minho collapsed into his seat with a loud sigh, watching Jisung force himself to sit down. It was obvious he didn't want to be there. None of them did. It was more obvious that Jisung didn't want time. He didn't like the concept. And he didn't like the thing itself. How it moved forward relentlessly and therefore forced everyone to move as well, dragging them along without mercy. 

Time had become a recent obsession of his. How he wanted to manipulate it and travel back. Maybe to exactly a year ago, maybe six months ago. Maybe eight months. Preferably three and a half months.  

Minho couldn't help but turn around to stare at the empty desk behind him. They'd all be handling the day much better if he was there. The glue that held them together wasn't there to do so.

Not that it was his fault, of course. No one was blaming him, no one was putting blame anywhere.

Their teacher walked in, the same awesome English teacher they had the previous year, something they couldn't be more grateful for. The class went by slowly, and Jisung wished time moved this slowly forever. If it was ridiculous to ask for time to stand still, he could at least wish for it to slow down. Maybe he should never leave English class.

As the the day continued, he found it wasn't only that class that took longer to pass than it should have. Was time moving slowly the entire day? Because it was this specific day? If so, he figured he'd like for it to be the first day of this specific year forever, even if he hated it. He hated time more than he hated this day.

By the time their first lunch rolled around they were exhausted from the mental and emotional toll of the day. 

"We should go out this weekend," Chan spoke his first words of the day, holding Jeongin who was drifting on the edge of sleep on his lap.

"Where?" Jisung asked sarcastically.

"Karaoke?"

"Again, without him?"

"Would it be without him though?"

"Fair enough, we'll see."

The rest of lunch was spent in silence, other than Jisung calling Hyunjin to check in on him, make sure he was okay. 

"Hey Prince, how are you today?"

"Same old same old," he ended the sentence with a sniff.

"You'll start feeling better soon," Jisung attempted a comforting smile even though the other couldn't see him.

"I can only hope."

Jisung hung up and continued eating the sandwich he'd packed that morning while his mother was ransacking his room. Usually it'd scare the shit out of him when she threatened to do that. Now that he wasn't using, he told her to go for it. He had nothing to hide anymore. 

The bell rang again, signaling the start of yet another class. Korean Literature slowed the day to snail's pace, and Jisung noted it. He took out his timetable and highlighted 'KOR LIT', knowing he now had a class to look forward to.

By the end, they said their goodbyes and went their separate ways. Tomorrow should be easier, right? That's how its supposed to work, right?