̷W̷e̷.̷ 𝐈 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐝 [MINSUNG] Book Two

February 8th, 2018

Jeongin arrived at school and walked up to the friend group, immediately holding up his hand to shut them up before they could open their mouths. "I don't want to hear it. Yes, it's my birthday. Yes, I know you love me and you want to congratulate me. But spare it please, I don't like the fuss."

Everyone just nodded slowly, except for Jisung, whose jaw hung open as he stared at his friends. "Oh?? So when he says he doesn't want fuss we listen, but when I say so we throw a massive party??"

"They like me more than they like you," Jeongin joked with a shrug.

Jisung knew it was a joke, but it brought back a feeling he thought he'd left behind. Minho knew exactly where his thoughts went, and immediately took hold of his hand as a sign of comfort.

The situation that led to Jisung's suicide attempt that night so long ago, had never been resolved. It'd been patched up but never verbalized. Only Minho knew, none of the others, and so Jeongin had no idea why Jisung suddenly looked both terrified and sullen.

"Decaf..?"

Jisung stared at the grass without responding. Minho finally clapped his hands to break the silence and spoke. "I think we're taking today off."

"But-"

"No, we're doing it."

"I said I didn't want fuss-"

"It's not about that. We're having a family meeting."

"...Oh.. Where are we going?"

"Somewhere comfortable... Chan would your place be okay?"

"Sure.."

"Perfect, I'll call Hyunjin, and then Changbin, while we walk there. Off we go," he started waving his arms like an air traffic controller, shooing everyone towards the gates and off the premises.

-

"What do I do?"

"I think you know what you should do, you're just procrastinating. I don't understand why, what's scaring you?"

Hyunjin looked at his mom blankly. "What if i get hurt?"

"Selfish of you Jinnie. Listen, I'm going to tell you what I think, but you might not like it, okay?"

"Oh boy... Okay.."

"It's possible you'll get hurt. When people say love is pain, they mean it. Loving someone means staying beside them even if it hurts. It means risking the pain for the possibility of happiness. You need to accept that. What love isn't, is letting him hurt while you sit here afraid. If you love him, you'll save him from the hell you're putting him though, because from what you've told me about what he says... He's in a place worse than hell I think. What could be worse than hell? Tartarus I suppose. You scoff but you know I'm right. Hyunjin, does he deserve that?"

"No. He deserves more than even heaven. I don't know what that could be, but it's what he should have."

"Then start by taking a step towards at least making him happier."

Hyunjin just nodded, trying his best to believe what his mom had been telling him. Trying his best to see her point of view as correct, moral, or even logical. But something was still stopping him.

Just as he was about to stand and leave for school, his phone rang.

"Minho?"

"Hey, are you at school already?"

"No, why?"

"Could you get to Chan's house? We're having a family meeting."

"Okay... Is Seungmin going to be-"