Reasons to Stay // Hyunin

~21~

Jeongin was sitting at his desk in his room after school that day. He had a book opened in front of him but of course he wasn't actually studying. Instead he was staring blankly at the pages, thinking about his Lee Know hyung. So what exactly had happened after they met up again that time at the child's care? He had recognized his hyung and Innie's heart is fragile and precious...

"Lee Know hyung," he had cried, tears was immediately in his eyes. Without hesitation he came over and hugged his hyung tight, he never wanted to let him go.

Lee Know didn't cry a lot either, but this was his loved dongsaeng Innie, who had been his sole purpose of living. "Innie-yah...I thought you were dead..." and it was just one of those reunion moments in movies that are slightly cringe.

Hannie sat to the side as he watched the beauty unfold. He blinked as he looked away and suddenly found interest in his hands in his lap. Who was Eun?! Who was Hyunjin?! Who were all those gangsters who had no problem at all to murder lovely beings like the two beside him right now? And to think he was a part of them!

It had been a couple minutes and the children who were previously absorbed in drawing chalks now had their attentions turned to their beloved Innie who was crying buckets of tears. And the two strange men who he was associating with.

Little Aera lightly stepped toward Jeongin-oppa and looked up at his face, with curiosity. She just stood there and blinked, she didn't say anything. Then with a child's crystal heart she wrap her arms around Innie's leg and started crying too.

Jeongin suddenly remembered that he was still at his work, and it wasn't right not to watch the children. He turned his face from his hyung to Aera and cautiously bent down. His face was red and wet but he smiled softly at her, "What's the matter?"

"O-oppa, w-why are you crying..." she sniffled and he wrapped his arms around her.

"Ah don't cry Aera..." he hugged her and gently stroked her back, then stood up with her in his arms. "Hey, do you see? This is my hyung, Lee Know hyung." And Aera looked at Lee Know with big eyes, and then turned her head to look at Han. "Then who is he?"

"Um," Jeongin wasn't sure how to respond. Reality was coming back to him. Well he's the guy who was staring at me in the convenient store? He thought with a sudden feeling of uneasiness and insecurity. "He's...hyung's friend," Jeongin finished off quickly.

"Sorry," Hannie apologized. He tried to smile nicely, "I'm Jisung. Nice to meet you."

"Ah," Jeongin nodded, "Hi Jisung-hyung, I'm Yang Jeongin."

Han nodded, Yeah I already know that. And you and your hyung's lives are in danger. He wondered if he should address the issue right here, right now. Or at least tell them to be careful? How?

However before he could get any words out, Jeonginnie said that he must get back to the job, even though in his heart he longed to stay with his hyung. The children were getting distracted and there were some kids who don't listen to any workers except Jeongin. So he had to go back to them, and both Lee Know and Han agreed that it was probably best for them to get out of the area before the head staff came and saw them.

Jeongin looked longingly at the backs of those two guys as they walked away. Who was Jisung? And how did Lee Know just suddenly show up today? Where had he been for forever? Why hadn't he come to him sooner?

Jeongin realized he should have gotten Lee Know's number or something, but it was too late. They were already out of sight.

His thoughts were disturbed by children's voice, "Hey hyung guess my favorite chalk color!"

"And guess mine too!"

"Jeongin-oppa guess mine!"

He smiled and turned his attention to them. "Hmm? Is it pink? Blue?"

So many unanswered questions...but it doesn't matter to him now. His Lee Know hyung is alive.

----

Lixxie's heart was light-hearted and happy as he walked out of the school to go eat lunch at a nearby convenient store. It had been heavy the past weeks because he still had not made up with stubborn Jeongin, but today he felt that he should be happy, at least today. He had made brownies at his home and even got to invite Changbin, who was usually so busy, to come over. In the past it would be Lix, Changbin, and Jeongin too, but that was while they were in school together. And indeed Lix had invited Jeongin to come over today, but like sassy Jeonginnie these days, he had ignored texts.

Felix asked for some skewers at the counter and chose a snack and drink in the aisle, then went to sit at a small table in the corner. He was enjoying his meal while scrolling Instagram when he heard a familiar laugh at the front of the store. Rats. It was Jeongin...with Hyunjin of course.

Changbin had done some spying for Lixxie and Felix was now for sure that Hyunjin wasn't only a toxic person to be in a relationship with, but he was actually part of a big-scale criminal gang. And evidently why he was targeting Jeongin was because of something that had happened years ago. Felix didn't know too much about Jeongin's childhood.

Suddenly Felix called out, "Hey Jeonginnie."

Jeongin turned to see Felix calling for him. "Oh hi." He said, but since Felix was waving him over he had no choice but to walk over to him. "Did you...need anything?"

Felix ignored the coldness and tried to smile, "I made some brownies and stuff at my home, and I invited Changbin over to eat dinner tonight, you know like a casual thing. I wanted to see if you could come join us?"

Jeongin looked down, hesitant. "I..."

"Please," Felix begged, "just like we used to, the three of us after school. Just tonight. I know you don't have work. Changbin and I really want you to come."

Jeongin felt a slight resentment in his heart. Yes, Changbin and Felix who had been pestering him as much as possible about the importance of his avoiding toxic Hwang Hyunjin. Did he really want to be lectured again tonight?

He didn't look Lix in the eye as he answered, "Sorry...I think...I have other stuff planned al-already..."

"Come on, Innie-yah, please?" Felix tried to make a way around Innie's obvious excuse/lie. Then he said in a quieter tone, "You really just don't want to come, right?"

Jeongin defended, "No it's not that. I just- I...really have some stuff to do."

Felix would have coaxed more except that Hyunjin was coming this way now and he really didn't want Hyunjin to get in the conversation. "Okay, okay, fine..." he sighed, obvious disappointment showing on his face.

Jeongin and Hyunjin sat at a table near the window, chatting and sharing foods. Lix frowned and tried to distract himself by looking at his phone. It wasn't working.

He watched innocence and evil sitting side by side...feeling helpless that he couldn't do anything about it.