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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"Hyunjin hyung, I'm so sorry—" Jeongin lamented through the hands covering his bright red face as he cowered in the corner, embarrassed as all get out. It just wasn't working.
"Um... it's fine," Hyunjin replied, looking down, pressing the ice pack Seungmin had just given him to his cheek— but he wasn't selling it. Maybe it was just the residual shock of being clocked in the face moments ago... but more likely it was that he was disappointed and hurt (emotionally) by yet another rejection. Man, Jeongin felt bad.
Yesterday, after coming out of little space, he'd been able to look at Hyunjin again with all that fear that had felt so overwhelming just a short time ago all but gone. Hyunjin just looked like his friend again— perhaps just a slightly less mentally stable version of his friend, unsettlingly bruised up and dejected. So Jeongin thought he'd be okay with him after slipping around him one more time. But once again, Jeongin just wished he could tell his little self to take a chill pill, because the more he told himself to get over his irrational fears, the more his inner child feared.
Today, when they'd given the plan another shot, terrified, Little Jeongin hadn't hesitated. As soon as Hyunjin came close to him— barely even having had the chance to offer his best attempt at a friendly smile— he ended up with a hand smacking right into his jaw, quite literally pushing him away. And he managed to pull himself out of little space directly after it, too.
Yeah, Jeongin felt bad.
On the other hand, Seungmin just couldn't stop snickering behind his hand. "Damn, Hyun, he really hates you."
"Hyung! Stop." Jeongin's reprimanding words were firm and serious they shut Seungmin up instantly (causing remorse to set in and show on his face within seconds). Especially having just come (very abruptly) out of little space, it wasn't easy to spout such bold, authoritative words. But they were needed. Hyunjin wasn't finding the teasing funny at all, judging by the way he looked down and away to hide his eyes.
Once Seungmin coughed up a quick, but heartfelt 'sorry', Jeongin turned to Hyunjin. "I swear, I don't hate you, Hyun hyung— I love you, seriously."
Hyunjin gave a shaky sigh, muttering, "...You're sure it's not personal?" He gave up on any plans of hiding vulnerability as he brought his head back up to look straight at Jeongin, glassy-eyed. The insecurity there was glaringly obvious as the water pooled, just waiting for its chance to spill over his eyelids.
"Uh..." Jeongin looked over at Seungmin helplessly. Because the thing is that it kinda was.
"I think what he wants to say his Little self is specifically afraid of you. Am I right?"
