Reasons to Stay // Hyunin

~33~

Jeongin awoke to a sharp pain in his shoulder. He immediately jerked his head and sat up suddenly. Ouch...he looked around and close beside him was a man looking like a doctor, white mask, gloves, and coat, holding a needle in one hand. "Lie back down and rest," the man said.

Dazed, Jeongin listened and lie back down, carefully, upon realizing that there were tubes in his nose and all the over the place. He also noticed that he wasn't wearing a top. So embarrassing. He slowly pulled up the blanket that was lying at the base of his feet to cover himself up. Tired, whole body aching, he closed his eyes and tried to relax.

Hearing the patter of feet and a woman's voice, "Is he awake? How is he?" made Jeongin open his eyes slightly to see who it was. It wasn't someone he recognized. She looked like she was in her early 50s, a humble height, hair in a messy bun, and wearing an apron.

Jeongin would've greeted her formally, but he was getting sleepy as suddenly as he had become awake. He was closing his eyes again as the lady hurried over to his side, "Boy, are you hungry? Let me make you some-"

"It's okay, let him rest," the doctor said and the woman nodded, understanding.

The two watched Jeongin fall asleep, his hands that were tightly grasping the blanket relaxing. "What happened to him, doctor? Will he be okay?"

"Overdose," the doctor answered, mouth a straight line. "He's doing a lot better than I would expect. He's aware of his surroundings and he can hear, understand, and listen to my words. He even shows embarrassment and self-consciousness." The man shook his head. "It's a complete miracle. Considering the rapid pace he consumed that large amount, and also lying down in the cold rain, he should've been long gone. It's too strange."

"what happened to his arms?" the woman asked, observing Jeongin's bandages.

"Cutting," the doctor replied, "the boy probably had depression."

"Poor thing, he looks so young and pure.." she sighed, thinking of her own two sons helping out with their family beef restaurant outside this room. She couldn't imagine them being in such a horrible condition.

Customer ringing a bell reminded the woman that she still had work to do, thanking the doctor and scurrying out of the room to fulfil service.

The man looked over his shoulder to see if the woman was completely out of sight. Then he took out a syringe and injected a fluid into Jeongin's tubes. A strange smile played on his lips as he watched the colored fluids flow upward.

"Boss Eun, we've pursued this boy for so long, it has been a painful effort...but don't worry, boss, I am honored to kill him for you today."

----

Around the time Innie had woken up, another person had woken up too. Hyunjin found himself back in his own bedroom at the base. The surroundings were sickening familiar. The bed that he was lying on had seemed comfy before. This had been his home.

It didn't seem like home anymore. He felt that he didn't belong here. But he didn't belong in the citizens' world either. He would be hiding from police 24/7. He didn't seem to belong...anywhere.

Hyunjin got up and went to the door, but it was locked and wouldn't budge. They couldn't trust him now.

He hoped Jeongin had run away to somewhere safe like he commanded. He wasn't sure about it because Innie always got himself into bad situations, why wouldn't he get himself into one again?

Hyunjin went back to his bed and sat down. Maybe this was his life. Maybe his story was just to be a gangster, from birth to death. The Author had written him as a static character and he couldn't change it.

How he wished he could become Jeongin's lover and protector. But he couldn't seem to escape from the gang ever. And after what happened at the shop, Hyunjin's true identity had been revealed to Jeongin. Even if he had a chance with the normal world, Jeongin probably would hate him for all the lies and crimes he'd committed in the gang and against Jeongin himself.

Hyunjin's face felt hot and he savagely wiped at his eyes. Ugh, you idiot...why are you crying now?! Just accept the fact that you can't have Jeongin and get over with it. You're not a baby, you're a, a...

...a gangster.

Hyunjin's shoulders slumped at the acceptance of his wretched fate.

----

Minsung had spent the night underneath a balcony overlooking an alley. It was cold but Hannie had the skill of stealing any coats or blankets that he could from other homeless people. It sounds bad but for a gangster has the mindset of "survival of the fittest."

"Why can't we go back to the hotel room..." Lee Know mumbled as he shivered, bundled up in some of the stolen covers.

"We can't. If we're caught we're immediate suspects..."

"Where did the man go?"

"I don't know but that doesn't matter. Once we're in trouble we only take care of ourselves. Baby, sleep well and I'll keep watch."

"Hannie, you need to sleep too," Lee Know whispered, trying to lift his head but he was too tired to even do that.

"It's okay, you sleep," Han persisted.

The older wanted to argue more, but exhaustion overtook him and he drifted off to sleep.

----

"WHERE DID YOU HEAR IT FROM?!"

"FROM BASE 3. THEY SENT MESSAGES-!"

"DON'T TALK SHIT TO ME."

"I'M NOT, YOU BITCH-!"

Hyunjin awoke to loud shouts and cussing from outside his door. He normally was a sound sleeper but his mind was too disturbed and occupied these days. He sat up and quietly listened to the conversation. He didn't have to go to the door and eavesdrop because the angry voices were well loud enough.

"You're telling me, that the Boss is dead."

"Yessir."

"DAMMIT!"

Hyunjin sat up straighter. The boss? Was that "Posh" Eun?

"Then what're we gonna do?!"

"Well...Eun was planning to hand over the leadership role to..."

"TO WHO?!"

"...Hyunjin..."