neon roses ~ l.mh • h.js

capitolo ventitré: bugie

"I'm Jisung, what's your name?" Jisung started. He didn't know how long he'd be here, but one thing he did know was that he needed to calm himself and stay strong for the other boy in his cell to at least help to the best of his ability.

"J-Jeongin." He spoke. Jisung smiled.

"Jeongin. That's a pretty name." Jisung said. The boy smiled a little more. "How long have you been here?"

"About a month.." Jeongin raised his head a little more. "What about you? Did you just get here?" Jeongin asked. Jisung shook his head.

"I was here for around a decade before the place burned down. They managed to catch me all this time later, I guess." Jisung sighed. Jeongin's eyebrows raised in surprise, but they quickly fell along with his expression as he rested his chin on his knees. 

"There really is no escape, is there?" Jeongin hopelessly said, eyes watery and ears droopy.

"Don't say that. We'll escape, and we'll bring everyone in here with us. I've been here the longest time before and I'm just fine, aren't I?" Jisung reassured, holding out his hand. Jeongin stared at it for a second before reaching his own hand and taking it. Jisung smiled and squeezed his hand, rubbing his thumbs over his knuckles. "We won't be here forever, I promise you."

"How can you be so sure?"

"You'll just have to trust me. You'll see soon." Jisung said, smiling when Jeongin nodded but started to panic when he started crying.

"Thank you for being so nice to me.." He stuttered out weakly. Jisung sighed.

"You shouldn't have to thank me for that." Jisung said as he reached his hand up to Jeongin's head, patting the top of it and smiling when he saw Jeongin close his eyes in delight.

"Can I hug you?" Jeongin asked timidly, averting his gaze to the floor again once he opened his eyes. Jisung grinned and nodded, Jeongin smiling in return and slowly scooted himself towards Jisung to lay against his chest, Jisung tangling his hand in his hair. Jisung knew that Jeongin was being way too trusting towards a stranger and couldn't help but feel sad. The innocent and naive boy wasn't here that long, but Jisung could tell he was in need of some affection. A shoulder to lay on. And luckily Jisung was that person for now. But neither of them knew what would happen from here.

After a few minutes of silence, they heard light footsteps approaching their cell. Jisung raised his head to find Soyeon peering down at him with a wicked smile.

"Glad you made a new friend, 19. Get comfortable, you'll be here a while."

🌙

"What do you mean he's not with you??" Changbin said angrily over the phone. Minho gasped and brought the phone in his hold away from his ear to prevent himself from going deaf.

"I ran a bit late at the dance studio.."

"Yeah, no shit. Why didn't you tell Jisung?"

"I did tell Jisung. He said he was alright waiting for me." Minho explained, a sigh being heard from the other line.

"So, my understanding of this is that Jisung isn't with me or you. And he was left, outside, to wait for you. That could only mean one thing, Minho."

"That.. That he got captured..?"

"Correct. Unless you have any better ideas." Minho sighed, a pit of worry and guilt growing in his stomach. This was supposed to happen, but why did he feel so bad about it anyways? Hearing the silence, Changbin spoke up.