Reasons to Stay // Hyunin

~28~

"Innie-yah, I'm home."

Chan opened up the front door as he got back from work late today. None of the lights were on, but it didn't bother him. Jeongin was usually in his room with a small mood light on that you couldn't see the light from the hallway. He was probably there today, too. If Jeongin was out with friends or something he would still tell Chan although he didn't talk to him very much. So Chan sat down comfortably in the living room with his laptop.

He was working as time went by and he realised it was already 8. Good grief. He had forgotten about dinner. In a haste stood up and went into the hallway. He gently knocked on Innie's door. "Innie-yah, did you eat yet? I'm sorry I forgot about dinner," he chuckled softly.

There was no answer although Chan could see the very very faint glow of Jeongin's little purple rock light from underneath the door. "Jeonginnie?" he repeated softly. Maybe the boy was asleep already. Sometimes he slept with the light on but it was kind of early to be asleep now.

Chan tried to turn the knob but it was locked. He gave up and quietly made his way back to the living room. He knew Jeongin's been stressed these days and always seemed tired, that must be why he's already asleep.

- - - -

As the hours went by it was around 11 at night and Han was swerving and speeding on Serpent Road, with his fake license. Lee Know was in the passenger seat and Hyunjin was sitting in the back seat with an asleep Jeongin. They were already around 5 hours away from Chan's home, planning to catch a plane flight to Canada.

"Hyunjin is he okay?" Lee Know couldn't see Jeongin's face in the dark and wanted to make sure his dongsaeng was fine. "Yeah he's still asleep," Hyunjin answered as he carressed Innie's head and played with his hair. He was nervous but all they needed to do was make it by the road without Han being stopped and interrogated by police.

The car was relatively quiet, the radio turned low to a hum. No one talked, the air was tense. Hyunjin felt himself getting sleepy and nodding when the person lying on his lap suddenly shifted and lifted his head. "Jeonginnie, you're awake."

"J-jinnie-hyung?" Innie said sleepily and he looked up, seeing to figures in the front seat, their silhouettes in the car lights. He was immediately frightened because it reminded him of his experience in the backseat of a dark car not too long ago. He held onto Hyunjin's arm tightly but didn't speak.

"Don't worry," Hyunjin purred, "we'll be somewhere safe soon, baby."

Jeongin would have blushed and flustered of being called "baby" by Hyunjin but he was too scared of the surroundings. "Who are they," he breathed, careful not to be too loud.

"Your Lee Know-hyung and Hannie," Hyunjin answered in a soft, comforting voice. "Innie there's a lot of things you don't know...we will tell you later but this is what's safe. If you stay at home, the gang is dangerous. Don't worry, okay? We'll be safe."

"Th-the gang?" Jeongin said. Hyunjin could feel his body tense. He tried to stroke him and calm him. "Hyung. What about Channie-hyung. Where is Channie-hyung?"

"Don't worry, he's safe."

"Where are we?"

"We're on the road, darling. We're going to an airport and then we can safely get out of the country."

"Out of the country!" Jeongin exclaimed a little louder, making Lee Know turn his head, "Ah Innie your awake."

"Lee Know-hyung!" Jeongin answered, he hadn't seen Lee Know every since at the daycare. He felt a small peace because of course he trusted Lee Know. But...he also trusted Bang Chan?

"Does Chan know I'm gone?" Jeongin asked, worried.

"Don't worry, Innie, just rest. You don't have to ask too many questions, everything will be all right and Chan is all right, don't worry."

Jeongin was quiet after that but he really wondered how Chan was right now.

- - - -

Next morning Chan woke up and went through his morning routine as usual. He came out of his room and noticed Jeongin's door was still closed. He tried the knob and it was still locked. Strange? Shouldn't Jeongin be at school? "Jeongin?" he knocked.

When no one replied, Chan took a paper clip and unlocked the door. He slowly, quietly opened it and saw the mood light still on, settling on his nighttable and "Jeongin" still bundled up in covers lying on his bed facing the window.

"Innie, are you sick?" Chan asked softly as he walked over. He gently lifted the covers, stopped at the sight, and blinked twice.

There was no Innie but bunches of his clothes or stuff animals piled in certain places to make it look like he was lying there. This wasn't right. Chan knew that Jeongin could be at school but why would he do this? Had this been the situation of his room since last night when Chan came back from work, and he hadn't bothered to check on the boy?

Chan's shoulders drooped and his heart withered. Have I failed to protect him again?

He should have been more careful after recent incidents. Chan what's wrong with you...you're supposed to be Jeongin's guardian yet you didn't even have your eyes opened after a gang attacked him last week?! Try harder.

No matter the circumstances however, Chan couldn't just stand here and wonder where Jeongin was. He called the school and they said Jeongin hadn't showed up yet today. No no no no no...

He tried calling Jeongin but no one answered. so he texted,

Innie?

where are you?

are you not at school?

He grabbed at his phone and read an immediate answer.

sorry hyung

i stayed at a friends house and completely forgot to tell you hyung :(

I'm sorry

Aren't you going to school?

I woke up this morning and didn't really feel that well

I'm lying in his bed rn

Don't worry hyung im ok

do you need me to come over?

you're Not going to school today?

its ok hyung I'll be fine in a bit

I might go to school later its ok

wellll

I gtg to work now but please call me if you need anything

mhm

No. Something wasn't right. That's not how Jeongin texted and even though Chan didn't know too much about the boy's details, he knew that Jeongin had never used "mhm" in any circumstance while texting. Chan was too smart for this.

It's not Jeongin.