Forget Me Not || Minsung

15

A month after Forget Me Not was formed (Year 2019)

"Jeongin, come here. I bought food. Pick what you would like for dinner," Chan happily said as he unpacked the grocery bag on the kitchen counter. Jeongin watched him a few meters away, wondering why he bought food for him.

"It's okay. I'll go to the store and buy food for myself. You should ask Minho and Jisung what they'd like instead." Jeongin threw a hood over his head and went towards the corridor that led to the outside door. He didn't go far though because he got held off by a thug at his hoodie sleeve. He turned his head and gave Chan a confused look.

"Did you forget to buy something? I can get it-"

"No, Jeongin. Just don't go, okay? Sit on the couch and I'll be there in a second," Chan said and motioned with his hand towards the living room where the couch was placed. He ran back to the kitchen to finish unpacking the groceries and placing them in their assigned places.

Without voicing any of his questions, jeongin did as he was told and sat down, waiting for the older to come. It's been a month since they debuted as a band and he still wondered why everyone, especially Chan, were taking care of him. It's like they wanted to take care of him. That is what didn't make sense to Jeongin.

"I'm back," Chan said and sat near Jeongin with the usual smile he wore. Then the silence made his smile disappear and be replaced by a serious look. A slightly upset one.

"Jeongin...why are you pushing us away?" he asked. "Did we do something wrong? If yes, tell me and we will fix it-"

"Why are you so nice to me?" He cut him off all of a sudden.

"What?..." Chan was bewildered by his odd question.

"You don't have to act so nice, you know? I know how to take care of myself. I can buy my own food, you don't need to spend your money on me. You don't have to wake up early, just wake me up and you don't have to drive me everywhere. I can handle it."

"What...But I want to do all that. I want to take care of you and the others. It makes me happy knowing you all are safe and well. Can't I do that?" Chan asked, the feeling of sadness getting stronger bit by bit. He wondered what the boy had to go through to have this type of self-reliant mindset.

Jeongin stared deeply at the floor, not knowing what to do and not do, what to say and not say. But staying silent was not an option as he knew Chan's comforting presence would make him talk before he realizes it himself.

"Look," Jeongin said and turned to the side to face him. "I grew up this way. You can't expect me to change by the snap of fingers. I'm used to taking care of myself so let me." His words sounded a bit forced. As if he didn't want to say that, as if he wanted to say a completely different thing. But he didn't.

Chan looked at the younger's hand that was clutching the couch's cushion so tightly that his knuckles turned white. And by the look of Jeongin's face he knew the younger didn't realize he was doing it. Chan gently traced his finger over the back of Jeongin's hand and made him snap out of his thoughts and look at his hand. He instantly relaxed it and let out a breath.

"How do you do it?" Jeongin asked.

"Do what?"

"The feeling you make me feel..." Jeongin said a little quieter with his head down and traced figures on the couch with his finger.

"What's that feeling?"

The younger raised his head and their eyes met. "Safe. You make me feel safe. And...that just makes me want to tell you everything that's on my mind. I hate it. It makes me weak."