THE8 | Junhao

FORTY - SIX

| CHAPTER FORTY - SIX |

"—And that's why I've been going by The8." Minghao's out of breath by the time he finishes speaking, his chest rising and falling from the lack of air.

Soonyoung just sat there, face disbelieved.

Minghao sighs, feeling bad for loading all of this onto Soonyoung in the matter of one night, "Hyung?" Minghao looks at him, leaning on the kitchen table, awaiting any reaction whatsoever.

"So," A gulp, "Let me get this straight," His cousin finally says something. Soonyoung rests his arms on the table, gesturing at nothing, "You witnessed uncle's death and then disappeared, only to join an undercover gang, with a promise that the leader would help find the killer... only for that same leader to be the culprit?"

Minghao raises his brows, a bit taken aback, "Yeah... actually." He chuckles a bit.

Soonyoung laughs, clicking his tongue, "The way this makes no sense." He shrugs in disbelief, throwing his head in his hands, "The entirety of the 2 years I've been looking for you, I thought you were kidnapped."

"No," Minghao shakes his head, placing a hand on his cousin's, "I've been fine, I am fine."

"Are you?" Soonyoung could cackle, "You just found out the leader of the gang you've been living and doing almost everything with for over 2 years killed your father..... Are you okay?"

Minghao takes a moment, resting his chin on his palm, elbow on the table. He sighs deeply, looking away, "U will be." He gives Soonyoung a reassuring smile, one full of obvious lies.

Soonyoung pouts, "You're lying."

"No I'm not." He doesn't even know why he's trying at his point. Soonyoung has been able to tell Minghao was lying ever since he was 10 years old and stole one of his mother's cookies off his plate.

"Bullshit." Soonyoung scoffs, "What's up?"

"My plan failed." Minghao's eyes are zoned out on the table, attention solely focused on the beats his fingertips made on the hardwood, "My plan failed so horribly, hyung.... I don't think anything could get worse at this point."

"Your plan?" Sonnyoun: brows twist. He leans closer, trying to meet his cousin's eyes, "What do you mean? What was it?"

Minghao takes a deep breath, exhaling slowly. There's a permanent frown on his face, and Soonyoung wants it to disappear so badly. He hates seeing one of the people he loves the most in the world sad.

"I..." Minghao bites his lip, closing his eyes. He really doesn't want to admit this. He'd do anything to keep it remained a secret forever and on.

Sadly, his wishes rarely come true.

He takes a breath and tries to hide the way his eyes gloss over, gaze hung low, "I fell for someone, hyung..." He sniffles, sighing as he looks at the table through his lashes, "Pretty h-hard." He gets out a laugh.

"Have you kissed?" Is the first thing his cousin asks, and Minghao tries not to laugh at the bluntness.

"We never really got the chance to." He answers sadly, hating the way it was the truth, "I'm glad, though." He sighs shakily, shrugging with a smile, "I probably would've ended up staying when he asked me to."

Soonyoung frowns, holding his cousin's hand, "Minghao," He whines, lip pouted, "I'm so sorry."

"For what?" Minghao asks him, "It's my fault for breaking from my mission, hyung. My whole time there was supposed to be professional.... I should never have meddled into a possibility of a relationship."

"It's not a crime to fall in love with somebody, Minghao." Soonyoung frowns in sympathy, thumb swiping back and forth on his knuckles, the touch comforting, "Gang member or not, you're still a human. You have feelings, just as much as everyone else."

Minghao takes a moment, before looking up. his glossy eyes meet Soonyoung's, and an uncomfortable ripple runs through his heart.

"You know I won't stop until Seungcheol is dead, right?" Minghao hated the tone he used. He hated the way it sounded like he was saying goodbye, "I just want you to be ready... ready for anything."

You know what they say, the truth hurts.

Soonyoung nods, sighing.

Minghao watches him scoot his chair closer, soon right next to him. He purses his lips when Soonyoung leans close, the side of his head rested against his shoulder. Minghao closes his eyes, taking the moment in.

"I know, and I am," Soonyoung pouts, interlacing their hands, "Just stay alive.... Please."

"Only if you do." Minghao smiles, leaning his head on top of Soonyoung, sighing, "I can't lose anyone else."