Reasons to Stay // Hyunin

~1~

"I wanna be myself (I don't care) Yeah I gotta be myself (Just don't care)~"

Jeongin, as always, was listening to music as he walked home from school. He was a big fan of the group Stray Kids, who make him stay.

"And now that your weight's come off my shoulders I realise that I can fly~"

No, the weight was not off Jeongin's shoulders and he was nowhere near flying.

"I needed to find me (Now I know) The key was inside of me all along~"

But how long had Jeongin been looking for a happy Jeongin? He was sure he had dug all his insides to find a key for so long–it was depressing to know but Jeongin had concluded that he was trash and nothing good could come out of himself.

The song lyrics were interrupted by a RIING! RIING! of his phone which pierced his ears as he was wearing his airpods. His first instinct was to yank them out, then he fumbled around in his pocked to take out his phone and see who it was.

Channie-hyung

He picked up. "Hello, hyung?"

"Innie-yah! How are you?" he heard on the other end. "Hyung's at work right now, but when should I pick you up today?"

"Huh? Pick me up from what?" Jeongin was confused.

"From your daycare thing? Isn't it Fridays?"

OH WAIT. YES IT WAS FRIDAYS! Jeongin worked in an afterschool care on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays–

"AHHHH HYUNG! Thanks for remind me! I, um, I'll take the bus home–hyung I'll see you– I forgot and I'm late...bye, see you!"

Fridays Jeongin helped set up special activities which is why he would need to get there early today. He had forgotten, thank goodness his Channie-hyung had reminded him.

Jeongin hung up and changed his route so he could go directly to the children's place. He adjusted his backpack so he could run faster. How could he have forgotten?

Jeongin slowed down his running just slightly as he rounded the corner, but not enough to avoid going WHAM into the other person coming this way.

In a second Jeongin realised he was in the embarrassing posture of both his hands on the guy's chest so he immediately yanked them back. But he hadn't regained his balance yet and went toppling over to the left where unfortunately three bicycles were parked. They knocked over and got tangled with Jeongin on top. The bike handle poked into his thigh with an unpleasant sting, and Jeongin was sure that his new long cut on the leg had burst open. At least he wasn't wearing white pants or khakis today.

Jeongin was in the most uncomfortable position but was afraid that if he got up now, the heap of bikes would shift and he'd fall again. He had forgotten that the reason he was in the mess was because he had crashed into a person. Well that person was staring at him now. "You need help?"

Jeongin jerked his head up to see the guy standing in front of him, and he hastily tried to get up but like predicted, slipped and fell into an even more uncomfortable position. He hadn't even seen the guy's face clearly because the sun setting behind him was kind of blinding Jeongin's sight at the angle.

"Uh, yeah, I mean I think I got it—" Jeongin slowly rolled over on his side and pushed himself up; his hoodie was stuck on the bike in the process and pulled up, revealing his back. Oops. He frantically grasped around but in his position, he couldn't see how to get it unstuck. So embarrassing.

The guy who had seen Jeongin bent down slightly and calmly unhooked it from the protruding handle with not much of a reaction to Jeongin's skin he had seen. Because boy was it ugly.

It didn't hurt at all anymore; it just looked terrible because part of his back and left leg had been scorched and charred by fire. It was a characteristic of Jeongin that he was most ashamed and embarrassed of...not only did it remind him of a horrendous past, it was also unpleasant to look at and whoever'd at elementary school and middle school known about it had bullied him. Fortunately, as of now, Jeongin was pretty sure that the high school he attended was oblivious to it...mainly because he wasn't really noticed. He was proud of himself for hiding it from everyone for, what was it, a little more than 3 years now? He only needed to hide it for this year before he graduated, then he could pat himself on the back for surviving high school. Or would he get mad and cut himself for surviving because maybe he'd rather be dead...

Anyhow graduating was the last thing on his mind as now there was a quiet spectator who had just helped Jeongin pulled down his hoodie so he wouldn't need to keep staring at his stupid scars! Jeongin blushed furiously and it was even worse when the guy offered his arm to help him up. "Th-thank you, I'm so sorry--" he mumbled and finally regained his balance.

That's when he finally got to take a look at the guy's face and sincerely—

God, why does he look so good?

Okay maybe Jeongin wouldn't be too embarrassed if it were just some random guy that he could just walk off coldly after an embarrassing incident but no—THIS WASN'T ANY RANDOM GUY. In fact, he was the most handsome man Jeongin had ever seen.

His blonde hair was down his neck and his bangs were tied back. His eyes were piercing, his lips attractive, and his chin sharp. His body proportions were perfect and he was tall. Besides what he looked like naturally, the fashion he wore was amazing. Yes, Jeongin had a secret love and taste for fashion and the way the guy's accessories, clothes, and shoes matched perfectly made him feel tenser because that was only a man in his dreams!

Bow, bow. "Thank you hyung, I'm so sorry. It's my fault; I shouldn't be running like that. Forgive me for being careless, I'm sorry..."

The blonde smirked, "It's okay. I'm just afraid you might be hurt? That looked painful..."

"Ahaha...I'm fine really. Thanks for helping me up..." Jeongin knew it wasn't good manners to not look someone in the eye when talking but his brain didn't function correctly right now. "I-is there anything I can give you," and he began digging around in his bag, maybe trying to find his wallet.

"Woah no it's okay," the blonde stopped him. "I don't need anything."

"Ah well are you sure? I'm sorry hyung, I was running on a tight schedule...Please, is there anything I can do for you, give you now or later?"

"Oh no you should go then, I didn't want to make you delayed."

Jeongin sighed. "Please hyung."

"Okay, okay then, if you insist," the blonde said nonchalantly. "Just tell me your name and where you go to school. You're a student, right?"

Really, those were sus questions and Jeongin should have been aware of something fishy or just wrong, or otherwords Stranger Danger because why should the guy care and know about these things? Anybody could tell that he was up to something! But Jeongin was in a hurry and like said, his brain wasn't functioning well and he answered right away:

"Yes, I am, my name is Yang Jeongin and I go to Yeon-An High School, you know, over there?" Jeongin answered, waving his hand in the direction of his school.

"Ah, I see," the stranger smiled. "Well you should go to wherever you needed to hurry."

"Thank you hyung, again, I've had the pleasure to meet you!" and Jeongin scampered away (didn't he learn his lesson not to run down the sidewalk??).

The blonde stood and watched the younger's form disappear slowly as he got farther away, looking amused. That was way too easy!

Wow Hwang Hyunjin, you're so genius. It's only been a day in the city and you've already found him? Treat yourself to a nice dinner.

Hyunjin gave himself a mental pat on the back and coolly walked away from the scene.