Reasons to Stay // Hyunin

~6~

My favorite solo dance ever and a must-watch. Stan Liu Jun! 🦋

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Jeongin woke up Monday morning remembering that Hyunjin would be at school today. Why was he so nervous? Maybe Hyunjin wouldn't act the same as he did on the weekend. That would be embarrassing.

He took extra long to choose his outfit for some reason. It had to be perfect. It had to be a good impression on Hyunjin to cover up the embarrassing moment and showing his burn scars on Friday.

Yes, Jeongin realised that he actually cared about something. That even though he was nervous, he looked forward to something in life. And that he was noticeable enough for someone like Hyunjin to come talk to him. Maybe Jeongin wasn't some...little background, unimportant, unwanted blob of...nothing.

Jeongin quickly and efficiently finished his morning routine. His indecisiveness in choosing his fashion had eaten up some of his time. He rushed downstairs; man he had to hurry if he wanted to catch the bus.

Chan was downstairs eating breakfast while playing and replaying a song he had been working on. "Hey Innie-yah, good morning!" He looked up and smiled cheerfully.

"'Morning hyung," Innie mumbled and headed straight to the door.

"Hey hey, you're not eating something?" Chan quickly asked before Jeongin could disappear.

"No time hyung," Jeongin said while slipping his shoes on. 

As Jeongin expected, Chan quickly put down what he was holding and got up out of the chair, rushing over to the pantry. "Innie, Innie, wait one second—" and he grabbed a handful of granola bars and hurried over to the front door, unzipping Jeongin's back pack and dumping them inside before he could leave. He patted Jeongin's shoulder and sent him out the door. "G'day at school, aight?"

"Thanks hyung," Jeongin said under his breath as he rushed out of the door and down the sidewalk. He heard Bang Chan-hyung yell behind him, "Bye Innie!" Why Jeongin didn't answer. He didn't feel like answering.

Truth was; he felt very sick of how badly he treated Chan-hyung all the time. Ever since his family had taken Jeongin in so many years ago, Chan had been the kindest most loving person ever to Jeongin. Although Chan's parents were Jeongin's legal guardians, Jeongin lived at Chan's home because it was closer to the school. And Chan was always there to take care of him, make sure everything was fine, and make sure Innie felt loved. But Jeongin had hugged himself tight; he wasn't ready to open up to anybody, even he had lived with Chan for years now.

It was somewhat reasonable. Jeongin's first foster family had barely even acknowledged his existence on a daily basis, and when they did, they had referred to him as "the boy." Excuse me, he had a name. So the agency realized Jeongin was being neglected and sent him off to a second foster family. The parents had been ever kind to him and because he was still in elementary years at that time, he was innocent and believing. But Jeongin's trust was broken when the college-age son in the home took advantage of his weak and naïve self. It had scarred Jeongin even deeper mentally and now he refused to have a sleepover or even rest in a bed with anyone. As a child he had broken down to his teachers at school of what was happening at the house, so there went the second foster family. After a while of staying with police (which he absolutely hated), Jeongin was then transferred to a third home. By this time he was in middle school and was feeling very depressed. The third foster care was annoyed at how "bad and disrespectful" of a child he was and refused to keep him on another week. So Jeongin had to stay at the dreadful police headquarters for another long time.

That's finally when the Bangs came into the picture, and you bet Jeongin was reluctant. It had been years, and he was a teenager by now, used to staying with the officers. But his grades were lower than good squats and it was agreed that at his age, he should have a good family atmosphere. Jeongin was very upset and thus had trapped himself in a cage that he would not let the new family unlock him and bring him out. And even now, he was a junior in high school and still had not opened up completely to Bang Chan. No matter how real Chan's love might be.

As Jeongin jogged down the sidewalk, Chan stayed at the front door and watched him get smaller and smaller. He lingered a little after Jeongin was out of sight and bit his lip. Sigh...how much effort Chan put in every day to treat Jeongin well. How much he wished Jeongin could open up to him and accept him completely. How many years had it been? 

He slowly turned around and stepped into the doorway. "Innie-yah..." 

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"You look nice in the school uniform." 

Hyunjin was also getting ready for school while Jeongin was, and Han was sitting on the edge of the bed watching him get dressed. They had gotten a university dorm room (don't ask how). 

Hyunjin made a kissy face at Han who did in return and laughed. "This room is actually pretty nice, I could stay here forever..." and Han flopped down on his back. "i mean it'd be pretty nice to be a college student and not under the Communist dictatorship of "Posh"--"

"Yah," Hyunjin scolded. "We do what we're supposed to do. And you don't forget what he told you to finish today." 

Han sat up suddenly. "What. Did I have a job?" he widened his eyes in surprise, he didn't remember this. Hyunjin rolled his eyes at the reaction and said, "Yeah...?" and Han begged him to tell him what it was, because Han was afraid of "Posh" Eun and he had genuinely forgotten his mission. 

Hyunjin  was nice and said, "You need to send reports about #1025's health, remember." He adjusted his tie. Han would answer "oh yeah" but Hyunjin interrupted him, "Oops I have to go now" and grabbed his bag and left. 

Hyunjin took a taxi to the school and paid the driver. As soon as he got out, lucky him, he saw the back of someone he wished to see. He smirked to himself and walked up to him, then gave Jeongin a hug from the back. 

Jeongin gasped because he was surprised and didn't expect anything, and the hug was tight so he couldn't look up to see right away who it was so he looked down at the hands wrapped around him. 

That ring....Oh my all might, it's Hyunjin.