THE8 | Junhao | *EDITING*

FOURTEEN

| CHAPTER FOURTEEN |

Minghao laughs all the way to their hideout, explaining the delicious fear in the man's eyes, and how he managed to find the drugs cramped away in the adult fiction section.

Eventually, everyone stumbles into Seungcheol's office, ready to break the news. The good, and the bad.

Seungcheol looks up from his seat, "So?"

Minghao hums, throwing the bag of drugs down on his desk. He watches Seungcheol look down at the powder in the bag, and he smiles, tucking his hands back in his pockets triumphantly.

"Nice job, guys." Seungcheol nods, lifting the plastic bag to meet his eyes, "Where's the target at, though?" He questions, and the room goes quiet.

Vernon scratches his head, chuckling, "You see..." He smacks his lips, shrugging with a nervous grin, "We, uh— We kinda—"

"This bitchass cop took him." Minghao pouts, crossing his arms as he looks at his leader, "I was having so much fun with him too. He ruined it, Mr. Choi."

Seungcheol clicks his tongue, shaking his head, "Don't worry about it. We didn't need him anyways." He looks down at the drugs, humming, "Find out what kind of drug this is, and report back to me. Maybe we can find the owner of the recipe."

The team nods, and Minghao goes to retrieve the drugs, only for Jeonghan to snatch it from his grasp.

He whines all the way to the door, Jeonghan huffing in annoyance when it doesn't stop even when they leave the room.

"Give it to me."

"No."

"Why?"

"I feel like you'll eat it whole."

"And if I do?"

"Then you'll die from chemical poisoning." Seokmin butts in, nudging Minghao shoulder to get him back to earth, "Go get shitfaced instead, you deserve a break." He shrugs, "Alcohol tastes better too."

"Should I?" Minghao giggles, "I'm exhausted."

"Then go to bed." Jeonghan looks at him.

"I'm not tired."

"You just said—"

"Am I going alone?" Minghao walks away from them, turning around. he walks backwards, cocking his head to the side, "Does anybody want to join me?"

Silence. Minghao scoffs.

"Don't agree all at once—"

"Goddamn it, I'll go." Jeonghan sighs, running a hand through his blonde locks, shaking his head with an eye roll as he catches up with a giggling Minghao.

"Have fun." Vernon and Seokmin bid them a goodnight, walking to their rooms.

It doesn't take long for Jeonghan and Minghao to reach the small bar area, sitting down on one of the stools, waiting for their drinks they ordered just moments ago.

Minghao sways back and forth on the stool, humming a song.

"Only you could get drunk on air." Jeonghan laughs in amusement.

"I'm crazy, what can I say?" Minghao smiles like a maniac, "I remind myself of Pete from KinnPorsche." He shrugs, "That guy is a lunatic... I love it so much."

"You're insane."

"I'll take that as a compliment."

Jeonghan snorts, "In no way was it."

Minghao cackles under his breath, thanking the bartender sweetly when their drinks arrive. He clinks the ice against the glass being taking a gulp or two, smacking his lips in bliss at the taste.

Jeonghan drinks as well, swaying his legs.

"Mr. Choi wants me to transfer." Minghao says suddenly, sighing as he swirls a toothpick in his drink, watching the ice dance.

Jeonghan raises his brows, "Transfer?"

"Yup." Minghao pops his lips, eyes on his drink, "He said I should transfer stations. He finds the Seoul location to be more efficient."

A brow scrunch from the blonde, "More efficient?" He questions, crossing his arms to lean on the bar, eyes on Minghao, "How so?"

"Someone I know worked there supposedly." The red haired boy tells Jeonghan, watching the drip of condensation run down his glass, dampening the bar's surface, "Where'd the costars' go?"

Jeonghan ignores him, "Is that important? Knowing someone?"

Minghao takes a moment before shrugging, "I don't know...." He drags out, clicking his tongue as if to think, "No? Yes? Maybe?"

"I've heard rumors about your past, y'know." Jeonghan leans back, taking a sip from his drink, and Minghao turns to look at him.

"You have?"

"Mhm." Jeonghan hums, the bitter taste of bourbon tickling his taste buds, "I don't know the full story of course, but I've heard that it's heavily involved with one of your family members."

Minghao cracks a smile, watching his eyes slowly get smaller as it melts from the soft heat in the room, "A lot of people know, huh?"

Jeonghan shrugs, "Most."

Minghao chuckles under his breath, shaking his head, "Fantastic."

Jeonghan frowns at him, "You don't have to," He starts, "But if you want to talk about it, I'm here for you," He says, "And so is DK... and Vernon, this whole place is here for you if you want to talk." He looks at Minghao, nodding in reassurance, "You don't have to hide like Mr. Choi says, let that be the one order you disobey."

Minghao stays silent, nodding.

Jeonghan sighs in content.