THE8 | Junhao

SEVENTEEN

| CHAPTER SEVENTEEN |

Minghao's slammed against the wall, the drywall making his back burn, a low groan slipping past his lips.

He watches Jun slam the janitor's closet shut, his jaw clenched when he faces him, expression unexplainable, and Minghao almost smiles in satisfactory.

Jun exhales to calm himself. He pinches his temples before gesturing towards Minghao, "Why the hell are you here?"

Minghao shrugs, "I got transferred." He says simply. He wasn't lying, surprisingly.

"You could've gone to any other police station." Jun looks at him, snarling in annoyance, "Out of the twenty three locations around the city, you have to choose this one." Jun scoffs, coming closer, "Are you serious right now?"

"You guys are good, what can I say?" Minghao smiles, "My old location didn't give a shit about me. Why do you think I'm here right now? There was no reason for me to leave... They switched me out on their own. You should talk to them."

"You're already a pain." Jun huffs, glaring at Minghao, "Can't you get transferred a second time? Elsewhere? Anywhere?" He whines desperately.

Minghao coos, "You hate me that bad?"

"I don't hate you." Jun shakes his head, taking a breath, "I'm just simply... fed up. And if I glance at one of my colleagues and immediately feel the need to start an argument with them, I think that's an issue."

"Your issue." Minghao scoffs, "How does this have anything to do with me? You're the one with apparent anger issues. I did nothing wrong."

"Who caused this anger then?"

Minghao chuckles, patting Jun's chest, "You, babe." He nods with squinted eyes, "I'm simply here. I've done nothing but be a nice, new recruit for you guys to welcome."

Jun sighs through clenched teeth, glaring.

"You've already meddled in one of my investigations before," Jun steps forward, tilting his head to lean even closer. Minghao almost shudders at the proximity, "How do I know you won't do it again?"

Minghao's pretty smile lights up the room, his eyes flickering back and forth between Jun's, "Trust me, I will. We're partners after all, aren't we?"

Jun rolls his eyes, "Just don't get in my way. For the sake of my sanity."

Minghao smiles, "And if I do?"

"You don't wanna know."

Minghao hums, "Okay," He walks towards the door, "I have to get to work. Thank you so much for the unimportant pep talk—"

Minghao yelps when he's yanked back go his original spot, Jun staring at him with cold eyes. He scoffs, a new chapter of annoyance added, "I am not finished talking to you."

Minghao rolls his eyes, over it, "And I was." He grins, and Jun wants to hit him, "Goodbye, then." His hand takes the knob, but Jun grips him, pulling him away once again.

Minghao huffs, crossing his arms, "I'll moan."

Jun stills awkwardly, "Excuse me?"

"I will moan if you don't let me out."

Jun looks at him like he's crazy, "Are you insane? You're staying right here. I'm just trying to have a simple conversation with a colleague—"

"Do you want people to think we're having sex in a janitor's closet on my first day?" Minghao hums, hand already on the doorknob with a snarl on his face, "I'm a great actor."

He smiles when Jun freezes.

"Didn't think so."

With that, he cracks open the door, and exits, leaving Jun to deal with his mess alone in the janitor's closet, chest mixed with so many emotions he wouldn't even be able to count.

Right when Minghao turns the corner, he runs into somebody, sending them flying towards the ground. He stays upright fortunately, hand pressed up against the wall.

The person on the floor grunts, and Minghao opens his eyes, seeing stacks of paper scattered all over the floor, and also a boy rubbing his lower back, groaning in pain.

"Shit—" Minghao is immediate in bending down, hands already gathering up the sheets of paper, "I'm so sorry. I wasn't looking where I was going, I—"

"It's alright." The man nods with a breath. He blinks back to earth, helping Minghao clean up the mess they made, "I'm kinda used to it." He chuckles, "There really are so many employees. This place is crazy busy."

"You could say that again." Minghao scoffs, "The entire vending machine was full at the beginning of the day. Then, I went to go get a snack, and it just..."

The boy laughs, "It stocks everyday. Don't fret too bad."

Minghao smiles, soon standing to his feet. He helps the boy stand, wiping the dust off his side. "Sorry, again." He apologizes, handing the boy his stack of papers, "I'll look where I'm going more clearly next time."

The boy shakes his head, "I'm fine, really." He looks at his paperwork, "And thank you for helping with the mess. You didn't have to."

"I'm the one who ran into you." Minghao chuckles, "It was the least I could do."

"We ran into each other, dummy." The boy hits Minghao's shoulder jokingly, shaking his head in amusement. He pauses for only a moment, "I'm Joshua."

Minghao bows slightly, "The8."

Joshua furrows his brows, "What?"

"The8." Minghao smacks his lips, "I'm The8."

"That's your name?" Joshua asks, confused.

"Yeah." Minghao sighs softly, "I changed it just a few years ago." He tries to sound sad, "My folks loved calling me by it..."

"What does it mean?"

"Infinity." Minghao sighs, faking a heartfelt expression. He looks to the floor dramatically, "They said I was the infinity of our family. May they rest in peace."

Joshua widens his eyes, jaw fallen open. He raises his hand, shaking it, as well as his head, "I-I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to-"

"It's okay." Minghao sighs, "But yeah, that's my name."

"Very unique." Joshua nods, looking Minghao up and down, "It kinda suits you."

"It does?"

"Yeah. your hair is very..." Joshua stands straight, eyes on the bright red locks across from him, "Eye catching..."

"Is it bad?"

"Not at all." Joshua shakes his head, "It looks great." He smiles in disbelief, looking closer, "How hasn't it faded yet? It looks like it's growing right from your scalp."

"It's only been a few days since I've dyed it." Minghao tells him, "And also I re-dyed it just yesterday. I couldn't go to work with a faded head."

Joshua laughs, taking a moment before nodding, "Well, I'll see you around the station, hmm?" He walks off, waving a bit, "It was nice meeting you, The8."

Minghao waves as well, "You too."