SEQUEL TO HOLD ME
"it's only human."
those are words that stick in the minds of eight boys who have found themselves closer than ever because of a year spent at the same college.
minsung, seungin, changhyunlix... and chan :')
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Breathing a deep, shaky sigh, Chan fidgeted with the phone in his hand until it was ringing, dialing the number. He pressed it against his ear and put on a smile as he quietly cleared his throat, preparing to kick off the call with his usual, teasing tone. Trying to smooth out the shake in his voice.
"Changbin-ah~" Chan started, the very moment the call was picked up.
"Ah, look what the cat dragged in," Changbin drawled.
"Bit rude, innit?"
"Thought you were Australian, hyung... Anyway, whad'ya want?"
Letting a quick puff of air escape from his lips, Chan revealed, "Mom kicked me out. Want to buy a house with me?"
Nonchalantly, Changbin answered, "Yes."
"Cool!"
The call ended a moment later after settling that they'd meet at Chan's coffee shop in about half an hour. Chan left home immediately— having chosen to walk to the coffee shop instead of driving in order to sort out some thoughts. Today had thrown his brain for quite a loop.
He'd heard it about three hours ago now: "All rise."
Chan never thought he'd hear that stern command— a sign his suffering was seen and taken seriously. He felt as if he were dreaming— but that couldn't be true: he hadn't been able to sleep long enough to dream in weeks. Point being, it was simply unreal, like as the courtroom door opened before him, Chan had stepped into an uncanny haze; a distortion of reality. A figment of his imagination. A future where he wouldn't have to worry. Where his effort would amount to something. Where he could relax. Sleep.
A future that would have— should have— been his past as well, had his father not been consumed with gratifying his every selfish desire. But it was also a future he'd already given up on.
He tried not to let the weight of his father's fiery gaze across the courtroom get to him as he gave his testimony. Tried not to let it water down his words.
If this didn't work... If they didn't get the restraining order, Chan didn't even want to know what would happen next, with his father feeling betrayed, disrespected (as if he'd ever deserved respect), and humiliated. On top of that, his mother would probably never have the courage to try this again, and with that, Chan's fate would be sealed. So it had to work. It had to.
Words fell out of his mouth; he wasn't entirely sure what he had or hadn't said. But apparently... for once in his life... they were enough. Not more than an hour later, he walked out of that courtroom with a guarantee that was completely unreal: his father was finally removed from their lives. Permanently. No more midnight worrying. No more working to the bone, just to be stolen from. No more playing Sisyphus.
